A gun-shaped cigarette lighter, three NERF guns and a pair of pliers are just some of the items flagged at security
Sakib Mahmood, Security Duty Manager at Manchester Airport, with selection of items confiscated at T2 security(Image: Manchester Airport)
A handgun-shaped whiskey decanter, two multipacks of yoghurt and a leg massager were among the items confiscated in a single morning at Manchester Airport’s terminal 2 security this month.
Nearly 100 items were removed from bags including 24 packs of cosmetic products, seven drinks bottles and seven food items – including two multipacks of yoghurts. Most of these failed to comply with liquid restrictions, requiring anything that can be sprayed, spread or poured at room temperature to be packed in containers with a capacity of under 100ml.
Airport security regulations are set and monitored by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) – and as it stands, a 100ml limit for hand luggage is still in place on liquids at most UK airports, while hubs including Manchester wait for the CAA’s approval to remove these restrictions, following the installation of new 3D scanning technology.
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Also removed from bags were 12 pairs of scissors, seven corkscrews, four knives, and six packs of tools – plus two loose chisels and a pair of pliers. In each case, these items broke CAA rules prohibiting sharp objects or blades with a length of more than 6cm (2.3in) in your hand luggage.
A gun-shaped cigarette lighter was among the confiscated items (Image: Manchester Airport)
Another major security concern are gun-shaped items. Anything that is designed to look like a firearm, or could be disguised as one, cannot be carried in hand luggage. This includes items like toys – which could be painted or adapted to more closely resemble a real weapon.
This resulted in 10 toy guns or items resembling firearms were confiscated – including a BB gun with two packs of ball bearings, three NERF guns, and household items such as a handgun-shaped whisky decanter set. Other items which were confiscated were a baseball bat and a leg massager, in both cases because of their potential to be used as a weapon.
The airport has released images of the items to remind passengers of hand luggage rules as the busy summer holiday period begins. Travellers are warned that bringing non-compliant items through security can result in delays for themselves and for others.
A multi-tool was also seized (Image: Manchester Airport)
Sakib Mahmood, security duty manager, Terminal 2 Manchester Airport said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming millions of passengers to Manchester Airport this summer. We’re proud of the role we play in getting people’s journeys off to the right start, and more than 97per cent of our passengers are getting through security checks in under 15 minutes.
“But each time we have to pull a bag aside for a manual search it can take several minutes, and that can quickly start to add up and create delays – not just for the passenger with a non-compliant item in their hand luggage, but also for those waiting behind them in the queue. The range of items confiscated here in just a few hours shows what our security officers are up against every day – but when it comes to working out what is restricted and what is not, we know some items are more obvious than others.
“If you take a moment to reacquaint yourself with the rules before packing your hand luggage, it can save you lots of time when you get to Security – and avoids you losing items like water guns or bottles of suncream that you want to take on your holiday with you. In many cases, items like these which may fall foul of hand luggage restrictions can be taken in your hold luggage – so if in any doubt, pack the item in your suitcase rather than your carry-on bag.”
Some of the sharp items which were confiscated (Image: Manchester Airport)
Passengers are encouraged to be alert to items which might contain more than 100ml of liquid. Everyday items from children’s squishy toys to souvenir snow globes could inadvertently break the rule. Liquid medications over 100ml are exempt – provided you have a prescription label clearly displayed – as is breast milk in containers of up to 2L.
Large electrical items no longer have to be removed from your bag, thanks to the new 3D scanning technology now installed in both of Manchester Airport’s terminals. However, items such as belts and watches should be removed and pockets emptied before stepping through the body scanners, to avoid triggering them. These items should be placed inside your hand luggage before you place it into your tray at security. Doing this while you wait in the queue – rather than when you get to the front – can save valuable time.
Items that contain lithium batteries – such as power banks, vapes and tablet computers – may pose a fire risk if faulty so must be packed in your hand luggage, rather than your hold luggage, to allow easy access in the event of an emergency. You cannot fly with more than two power banks per person, and these must not be recharged in flight.