A Few Carry-On Items Come Off the No-Fly List

WASHINGTON -- The Transportation Security Administration said Friday that it would allow airplane passengers to carry such previously restricted items as small scissors and tools, but that it would expand random security screenings in an effort to increase protection of airplanes and passengers against onboard bombs.

The agency said the changes would let it focus “on more serious threats.” Several legislators, flight attendants and families of the victims of the Sept. 11 hijackings said that allowing sharp objects on airplanes might lead to terrorist attacks.

“While changes to the prohibited-item list may attract the most attention, they are not the most important piece,” said TSA Administrator Kip Hawley.

He said that after evaluating potential threats and vulnerabilities, the agency decided to focus more “on higher threat areas, like explosives.”

Under the new plan, randomly selected passengers would undergo body searches, and their carry-on items would be given more thorough examination.

The agency said that the new screening could include checks for explosives in shoes, the use of hand-held metal detectors to check individual passengers for weapons, and pat-down searches.

The now-standard screening at security checkpoints will continue for all passengers and the items they carry on board.

No longer prohibited from airplanes will be: scissors of less than 4 inches and such tools as screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers measuring less than 7 inches because, an agency spokeswoman said, “those size items are easiest identified by the screener.” She said that agency policy prohibited her from being identified by name when expanding on the director’s remarks.

Brian Sullivan, a retired Federal Aviation Administration special agent, expressed skepticism about the new plan. He said that locked cockpit doors might be opened by someone with a sharp object.

The transportation agency, he said, “may be acting prematurely, focusing all of their attention on bombs.”

Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a telephone interview that the agency was trying to save money, but the result would be less security.

“They should be providing additional funding for screening for bombs on planes,” he said.

Hawley said at a news conference that from March through September of this year, airport screeners found more than 9.5 million prohibited items in carry-on bags.

“We are opening a lot of bags to take away objects that do not pose a great risk,” he said. Hawley said that small scissors and tools account for about 25% of the prohibited items found in passenger carry-on bags.

Airline attendants and families of the Sept. 11 victims criticized the decision.

“This seems like a step backward in aviation and it hasn’t been thought out,” said Corey Caldwell, representative for the Assn. of Flight Attendants.

“This seems to be a staffing issue in TSA. They want to develop more resources to search for explosive devices but in order to do that, they shouldn’t have to sacrifice another portion of security.”

Time staff writer Emma Vaughn contributed to this report.