The U.S. transportation security chief is dropping plans to allow airline passengers to carry small knives on commercial flights.
John Pistole said Wednesday he is reversing his earlier decision to permit knives after meeting with safety experts, law enforcement officials, and airline industry representatives.
The loosened rules would have let passengers bring small knives on planes along with sports equipment such as baseball bats, hockey sticks, and golf clubs.
Pistole said the time that it takes officers to search passengers and bags for small knives could be better used to look for more lethal weapons, such as explosives.
But the flight attendants' union and other industry officials objected. They noted that the September 11 terrorists used small weapons to hijack four planes.
John Pistole said Wednesday he is reversing his earlier decision to permit knives after meeting with safety experts, law enforcement officials, and airline industry representatives.
The loosened rules would have let passengers bring small knives on planes along with sports equipment such as baseball bats, hockey sticks, and golf clubs.
Pistole said the time that it takes officers to search passengers and bags for small knives could be better used to look for more lethal weapons, such as explosives.
But the flight attendants' union and other industry officials objected. They noted that the September 11 terrorists used small weapons to hijack four planes.