Coalition Of Flight Attendant Unions Remains Resolute: No Knives, Ever Again

TSA has decided to put a policy change that would have allowed small knives on planes on hold while it receives public comment on the proposal. "This timing will enable TSA to incorporate the feedback about the changes to the Prohibited Items List and continue workforce training," TSA said in a statement. The change was to have gone into effect April 25.

The proposed change had drawn strong opposition from a variety of stakeholders. In a news release following the announcement, the Flight Attendants Union Coalition, which has opposed the TSA's plan from the start, said it remains resolute: No Knives on Planes Ever Again.

The Coalition states that, in its view, the United States has banned all knives from commercial flights since the September 11, 2001, attacks for good reason: Knives were the terrorists' weapons of choice in bringing down four jetliners and murdering thousands of Americans. Its position is that all knives should be banned from planes permanently. "If the TSA wishes to explore a drastic departure from this logical, 11-year-old policy, it must comply with the rule-making requirements that it should have observed when it first announced its decision to allow knives on planes on March 5." the coalition said in the release.

"Like any agency, before TSA changes a rule it is legally required to issue a notice of rule-making, to allow all interested parties the opportunity to submit comments, and to fairly consider that input," the coalition said. "If those procedures are followed, we have no doubt that the Administrator will conclude that knives have no place on our planes and will leave the rule barring "weapons" in place."

The Coalition said it is working diligently with members of Congress – Congressmen Ed Markey (D-MA) and Michael Grimm (R-NY) as well as Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) -- on legislation to permanently keep knives off planes. We thank these sponsors for their support on this critical security issue and urge Congress to act swiftly. In the wake of the horrific and as-yet-unsolved Boston terrorist bombing last week, now is not the time to weaken security and let down our guard.

(Image provided by TSA)

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