Airport reveals items passengers try to take on flights
27.01.08
Aberdeen Airport has revealled some of the weird items passengers attempt to take on planes or bring into the UK, including a dead tiger, a pet parrot and a giant tarantula. But the airport's press release has a more serious side, reminding passengers of the baggage restrictions still in place ahead of the busy half term break.
The airport says that customs staff were shocked and horrified when they opened a suitcase and came face to face with a dead tiger! The passenger was arrested and charged with attempting to smuggle the jungle creature into Scotland in his luggage.
Another passenger tried to transport his pet parrot out of the airport in a shoe box. But the bird and her owner were not happy about the prospect of being put through the x-ray machine at the security check. The owner told a shocked security officer: 'You can't x-ray this - it's my parrot!'
After being told it was not possible to allow to travel with a parrot on board the plane, the man then asked if he could travel with another pet ... and produced a giant tarantula from his trouser pocket!
An airport spokesman said: 'No action was taken against this passenger as he wasn't actually trying to take anything illegal in or out of the country. He was simply turned away and told he would not be able to travel with the animals.'
However, there are regular occasions when passengers face much more serious consequences. Among other items passengers tried to take on board flights from the airport recently were two throwing knives, a 'comedy' TNT alarm clock and a telescopic baton similar to those used by the police - an item which is no longer legal.
Security standards officer at Aberdeen Airport, Neil Fowler, said: 'It never ceases to amaze me what some people will try to take on board a plane. Our security staff come across all sorts of weird and wonderful things on a daily basis - sometimes unusual and funny, and sometimes dangerous objects or illegal weapons.'
He pointed out that since August 2006, restrictions on what can be carried on to aircraft have been tightened up. Even though the hand baggage rules were relaxed at Aberdeen Airport by some airlines, these restrictions, including on liquids taken on flights, remain in place.
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