LAX Flight Attendants Protest Small Knives on Planes
Video by Jake O'Brien
Beginning April 25, passengers will be allowed to bring pocket knives, along with other previously banned items, onto their flights, including planes at LAX.
The Transportation Security Administration decided in March that any knife with a blade smaller than two inches can be brought onto an airplane as carry-on luggage.
However, this has left many airline employees, such as Transportation Security Officer Victor Payes, feeling unsafe.
"Flight attendants, passengers, and TSO's are being attacked every year, and that harm, that risk will always be present, " said Payes. "You don't want to encourage that anymore by providing small knives to passengers."
The TSA aims to change current regulations that would allow small pocket knives to be brought on flights. Their hope is to increase enforcement against larger potential weapons.
The Association of Flight Attendants, however, is encouraging passengers to voice their concerns about the adjustment. Flight attendants at LAX held a demonstation today outside Bradley International Terminal to protest the new policy.
"There's no reason to have knives on an airplane," said Dante Harris, president of the LAX Flight Attendants Union. "The cockpit door is reinforced, so any type of terrorist or someone planning to attack or harm passengers or the aircraft, cannot get to the cockpit. It's the flight attendants who are the last line of defense."
Despite the recent oppositon, the TSA has stood by their decision. They released a statement Monday saying their decision was, "part of an overall risk-based security approach, which allows Transportation Security Officers to better focus their efforts on finding higher threat items such as explosives."
