Frontier Airlines flight diverted after unruly passenger discovered with a box cutter

[question everything]

Source: NBC News

A Frontier Airlines flight bound for Tampa changed course Friday night after an unruly passenger was discovered with a box cutter, according to officials.

After the suspect was taken into custody and searched, a second box cutter was found in their carry-on, according to the agency. Blades are prohibited in the cabin but allowed in checked bags.

Frontier flight 1761 took off from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport at around 7:20p.m on Friday and was en route to Tampa when the crew declared an emergency.

The plane was then "diverted to Atlanta after a passenger on board the aircraft was observed in possession of a box cutter," according to a statement from the airline shared with NBC News.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/frontier-airlines-flight-diverted-unruly-passenger-discovered-box-cutt-rcna56924

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How can someone pass security with box cutters?

[DURHAM D]

1. Aren't they small? nt

[peacebuzzard]

2. not one, but 2 got through security?

I would also like to know the answer on that one

[LiberalArkie]

3. Plastic handle and ceramic blade? No metal

[peacebuzzard]

9. wonder what the individual did that seemed threatening?

I will look for some followup news on this one.

[Orrex]

15. Those exist?

Not being snarky. I've seen/bought any number of box cutters over the years, but I've never seen one with a ceramic blade. Seems like overkill when a few bucks will buy you a gross of blades.



News to me!

[IronLionZion]

18. Those are super tiny

https://www.sliceproducts.com/products/safety-cutter

it's just enough to cut the tape on packages or open envelopes.

[Orrex]

29. Well how about that!

I've seen those, but it never occurred to me that there might be a ceramic version.

When I hear "box cutter" I can't help (wrongly) thinking only of those utility knives with the retractable blade, even though I know of course that that's only one type.

[Zeitghost]

51. It happens

I was flying home from Dallas last year and they found a 6" fixed blade knife I use at work in a somewhat hidden pocket in my laptop case. I completely forgot it was there and luckily it was an inexpensive knife and I had them toss it. But TSA at my home airport completely missed it despite running my bag through the scanner.

[Timeflyer]

4. Awful, glad nobody got hurt, but can't help noticing planned destination:

seems like FL attracts the "unruly"---why is that?

[IronLionZion]

20. Why Florida Is the Weirdest State in the Country

https://www.frommers.com/tips/miscellaneous/why-florida-is-the-weirdest-state-in-the-country

[Timeflyer]

41. Thanks, that's all true. Pittman gets it.

[GoneOffShore]

47. That was entertaining!

[Irish_Dem]

5. I got stopped by airport security because I had a tiny nail scissors in my make up bag.

The kind where you can only clip a hangnail at best.

They confiscated it before I was allowed to be cleared out of the security line.

I tried not to laugh. I pictured myself taking down an entire jet airliner with such a small "weapon."

[paleotn]

8. Oh my. Don't even get my better half started about knitting scissors.

Still kind of a sore point with her after our summer trip. And she's gotten really tired of my "there's people out there with CHAINSAWS and you're taking my knitting scissors!" Apologies to Gilford Godfrey in Beverly Hills Cop.

[Irish_Dem]

11. I know, I had exactly the same reaction.

People bring loaded guns into the airport and you are coming after me?

Additionally I am rather petite and asked security if they seriously thought I could
wipe out the aircrew or frighten them with my tiny nail scissors.

A 12y/o girl could throttle me.

I was surprised/irritated/amused but what are you going to do?
You hand over your "weapon."

So I have no idea how someone goes through security with box cutters.

[IronLionZion]

23. They don't know. You might be IRA

[Irish_Dem]

25. Oh Snap. Never thought of that.

Yep.

An Irish American female redhead, the size of a leprechaun, might very well bring down
the entire US civilian air fleet.

With her manicure scissors.

Maybe security knows what it is doing.

[IronLionZion]

27. Love it! I imagine a Jen Psaki looking woman could be more dangerous than she appears

[Irish_Dem]

28. exactly .....

[jmowreader]

45. You know what it is

Those forced manicures are scary things indeed.

It could be good for dealing with Trumpists though: “If you don’t sit down and shut up about Trump getting cheated out of a second term right now, you are going to leave this plane looking totally glam, and don’t think I wouldn’t; I have an eye shadow brush and I know what to do with it!”

[Irish_Dem]

49. You "nailed" it. The MAGAs need some makeovers.

They need some inner and outer beauty work.

Threaten them with make-up brushes and complete glam makeover.

[jmowreader]

50. They'd probably look good with a gold wash on their eyelids

Just about everyone does.

[Mr.Bill]

16. All I can say is I feel much safer on an airplane

knowing nobody is carrying more than three ounces of toothpaste.

[IronLionZion]

22. Americans often use the metric system without realizing it

TSA uses 3.4oz because it's 100ml for the rest of the world.

[Dysfunctional]

24. Actually, with my DoD ID and free TSA precheck everything goes inside my carryon.

I don't even take off my shoes. I and my luggage are scanned and that is it. No waiting in lines.

[Delphinus]

26. My husband and I

both have this and really appreciate it. We don’t travel often but the less hassle is better for my psyche.

[COL Mustard]

34. The free TSA pre check

Is one of the best benefits of working for Uncle! I have that as well!

[GoneOffShore]

48. My pre-check via Global Entry has expired. Loved when we had it. But have only flown 4 times

in the past 4 years, and only in Europe.

Not going to renew it, as we're not going back to the US. Even it's cured of the insanity.

[Retrograde]

44. I only take my bamboo knitting needles on planes these days

I don't want to lose any of my good ones to an over-zealous TSA person. On the last trip they decided that having my phone in my jacket pocket (I wasn't wearing it at the time) was somehow suspicious.

[peacebuzzard]

10. Had the same thing happen to me,

and those little scissors traveled everywhere with me through hundreds of security lines for a few years.
Don't try taking fingernail scissors through Bogota security! You might get stopped for quite some time.

[Irish_Dem]

14. Same here, had flown many times with the scissors.

Geeze, Bogata. I guess you are lucky you weren't jailed.

I guess the world needs to take a stand against women with tiny nail scissors in their possession.

[peacebuzzard]

30. I have yet to replace them in my travel bag!

I don't like to be detained for anything, not even tiny scissors.

[Tommymac]

6. OOPsie. Some TSA'ers are gonna have some 'splainin' to do. nt

[paleotn]

7. I can't get thru even pre-check with a half drunk coke.....

and this person gets ON A FLIGHT with an f'ing box cutter? De riguer for 9/11 hijackers I might add.

[Major Nikon]

31. Customs took all my beef jerky coming back from Canada

They can only manage to intercept 10% of the cocaine, but by Jebus they get all the beef jerky.

[imavoter]

32. How does beef Jerry violate customs

Or security?

[Major Nikon]

33. Something to do with agriculture rules

It was homemade and they said the only way I could bring it in is if it were in a sealed commercial package. When I brought it into Canada the Canadians didn't even inspect my plane. I just called them when I landed in Quebec City and they sent me on my merry way over the phone.

[IronLionZion]

12. TSA concentrates on groping brown people

they don't actually do much screening for weapons to provide real security. It's post-9/11 kabuki theater to provide the illusion of security.

How can someone pass security with box cutters?

If the suspect is white and has TSA Pre-Check, it's easier than most Americans are willing to admit. It makes you wonder about the full body scanners and metal detectors and carry on luggage screening, doesn't it?

[truthisfreedom]

13. Perhaps the blade(s) were at an angle

inside the X-ray machine that made them difficult to identify.

[Paladin]

17. Way to fire there, security personnel.

I hope some people lose their jobs over this incident.

[Marthe48]

19. ah well

security personnel are people too. When we went to Iceland last year, my daughter wore a coat she hadn't worn for awhile and went thru the airport security wearing it. When we got to Iceland, she was arranging her pockets to carry things for outdoor tours and found her spray bottle of Mace or pepper spray. Security totally missed it. She meant to put it in her checked bag and forgot. And went through security again, and remembered it was in her coat pocket when she got home. lol

I checked online when I flew a few years ago to see what I should carry or stow. The airline I was taking said a 2" blade, such as a small file or pocket knife was ok. I had this small cute metal pocket knife my husband gave me. Security said I read the page wrong or some bs. They gave me the choice of confiscation or mailing it home. Cost me $12 dollars to mail it, what a racket. So I put anything sharp or questionable in my checked luggage.

[oldsoftie]

21. I always look at the 4-5 rows around me for the "big" dudes.

Sometimes I see them looking around too. We're all thinking the same thing; "OK if any shit breaks out you back me up"
If I got behind that fucker I'd try to break his neck or at least choke him out. And I bet there'd be 2-3 others helping me.

[Old Crank]

35. What bothers me

Is that next to nothing happens to people carrying loaded guns through security.
They need 48 hours in jail and banned from flying ever again. Minimum

[argyl]

36. I'm still wondering why taking shoes off is necessary.

Years ago some dumbass tries and fails to bring down a plane with a shoe bomb and we're still taking our shoes off.
The only shoe bomb I've ever even heard of is this one, and it failed.
Surely we have the technology to detect explosives. Anyway, someone could fashion a small amount of an explosive charge into something innocuous looking enough to fool inspectors.
At least I don't have to fly with someone carrying a pair of nail clippers.

[grantcart]

37. The reason why you never heard of another one is they started to x-ray all of them.

[argyl]

39. An X ray can detect an explosive device?

[grantcart]

43. X rays detect whether or not a shoe has been altered to

Carry chemicals or explosive plastics.

An x ray would have detected the alterations in Reid's shoes.

[dembotoz]

38. perhaps we should all fly naked and ship your clothing fed ex

maybe issue hospital gowns because those cover so well

security is done by people. people are not perfect.

do wonder what the actual error rate is.

[MicaelS]

40. This is a box cutter to me.

https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-595/Cutters/Economy-Cutter?pricode=WA9967&gadtype=pla&id=H-595&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyMKbBhD1ARIsANs7rEE58cVzsEyPXTaGcPPN9kvMS5XOnZ1hcK6D220pWUbppEckZHuRMw0aAjMwEALw_wcB

Uses single edge razor blades.

I sliced open the skin on my chest with one nearly 50 years ago. Went to the ER and they used steri-strips to tape the skin closed.

[Mz Pip]

42. TSA is ridiculous sometimes.

I had a small 4.5 oz jar of lavender syrup confiscated at JFK.
Another time my luggage was searched over a small ceramic bowl. No liquid, just a little bowl with kitty cats on it wrapped in newspaper. Weird.

[FlyingPiggy]

46. Blackball him from flying for 10 years. These ridiculous unruly people need to stop.