September 24, 2001

8:18 PM

Air pistols cause security alert."TWO Norwegian schoolchildren caused a security alert at a Scottish airport after boarding a flight home with an air pistol in their luggage, police said. Passengers on board the Norwegian-based Braathens Airways flight were evacuated from the aircraft minutes before take off, an airport spokesman said." I remember getting a simple plastic water pistol (one of the hollow-squeeze things) at a carnival in the UK when I went there on holiday and I had to unpack my hand luggage after it showed up as a six-shooter on the Xray. I don't recall that event making it to the international news feeds.
posted by krisjohn (5 comments total)

I remember we went to Disney Land once and mother was all "up in arms" over the fact I put a water gun in my luggage. She was sure we wouldn't be able to board. I guess fretful mothers are now taking over airport security. Though it's pretty stupid to bring anything that ends in the word "pistol" or "gun" in light of recent events.
posted by geoff. at 8:57 PM on September 24, 2001

I hate Norway.
posted by Hildegarde at 9:30 PM on September 24, 2001

Is this posted as a good thing or bad thing? It seems like it's a good thing. FOA, didn't someone once hijack a plane with a starter's pistol? The look of danger is sufficient to gain control. It doesn't say anything in the article about what type of air pistols they were. They could be anything from obvious plastic toys to something like an RWS: The C-225 is designed to look, feel and function just like a standard firearm.
posted by jeb at 9:45 PM on September 24, 2001

It's posted as oversight mixed with overkill. For a start, the guns appear to have been in main luggage, ie; the hold. Not hand luggage. Unless guns really do kill people, they're not going to do much damage in there. Despite this, not only was the entire plane emptied and everyone else's luggage searched, but it was reported as international news.

Thing is, if one of the kids hadn't binned his, chances are that they wouldn't have been found at all.

I wonder how Olympic shooters are going to manage. Guess they'll have to travel by boat.
posted by krisjohn at 10:06 PM on September 24, 2001

Hildegarde: Okay, I'll bite- what's to hate about Norway?
posted by kahboom at 6:56 AM on September 25, 2001