SO EASY TO GET A SWISS ARMY KNIFE ON MY JET

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Dec 1, 2002 | by DAN EVANS

IT was dead easy. I just walked onto the plane with the Swiss Army knife in my pocket.

If I'd been a terrorist the consequences could have been too awful to contemplate.

But the most frightening of all was the fact that I'd bought this potentially deadly weapon in the airport's own duty-free shop. Passengers are routinely allowed on to UK-bound flights armed with knives like mine.

I took my six-centimetre blade unchallenged on to an easyJet Boeing 737 at Geneva in Switzerland last Sunday carrying 180 people to Gatwick. The pounds 13 14-function Swiss Army knife had been put through X-ray screening in my hand luggage, but was waved through by security staff.

And when I walked through to the departure gate I found another shop selling more of the knives. I could have paid around pounds 40 for a second knife with additional, potentially dangerous features such as a saw and pliers, and not have had to put it through another X-ray check.

I boarded the packed mid-afternoon easyJet flight EZS 973 to Gatwick with the knife in my pocket and took pictures of the razor- sharp blade in a toilet cubicle just 6ft from the cockpit.

Credit card records show that Mohammed Atta, who led the September 11 suicide teams and died in the first plane to hit the Twin Towers, bought two of the knives in July 2001 at Geneva's sister airport in Zurich.

Following the attacks, Swiss authorities banned all knives on board. But the rules were relaxed last December - and blades up to 6cm are now allowed in hand luggage.

Terrorism expert Simon Reeve said last night: "Even though Swiss Army knives were not used in the September 11 attacks, it is likely Atta was testing security measures in Switzerland.

"It is certain that members of al Qaeda will be aware that knives are sold at Swiss airports and that they can be taken on planes." I took two flights out of Geneva airport to test security.

The first time, when I said I was flying with British Airways, I was told I would not be allowed to take this type of knife on board.

But the second time I was correctly told I would have no problems taking it on board my easyJet flight.

Chris Yates, editor of Jane's Civil Aviation Security magazine, said: "The minute you allow weapons on board an aircraft you leave the system open to potential attack. Allowing passengers to buy Swiss Army knives in airports, let alone at the airport gate, is irresponsible.

"The rules introduced after September 11 were supposed to be universal. But clearly some airports have a wider definition on what constitutes an offensive weapon than others." A spokesman for easyJet said: "We would like the sales banned."

A British Airways spokesman said: "BA does not allow any sharp objects on board unless in hold luggage."

THE HIDDEN DANGERS

1: Large blade

2: Small screw driver

3: Can opener

4: Phillips screwdriver

5: Pliers

6: Wire cutters

7: Hook disgorger

8: Fish scaler

9: Ruler

10: Saw

11: Magnifying glass

12: Metal saw

13: Nail cleaner

14: Nail file

15 Metal file

16: Scissors

17: Small blade

18: Wirestripper

19: Cap lifter

20: Screwdriver

21: Key ring

22: Multi-purpose hook\

23: Corkscrew

24: Reamer, punch

25: Fine screwdriver

26: Chisel

Other extras not shown: Tweezers, toothpick, ball point pen, pin and mini screwdriver