PERTH – In TravelMole last week we ran a strong opinion piece from Cathay Pacific CEO Tony Tyler on the inconsistent application of security rules at airports
Tyler said that “inconsistent and poorly conceived†rules governing things like gels, liquids, belts and shoes “bring the whole security process into ridicule, while imposing unproductive cost onto the airlines and frustrating all concerned – passengers in particularâ€.
So what would Tyler have thought about events in Australia this week when two boys smuggled a stolen arsenal of handguns, knives and 3000 rounds of ammunition through Perth and Karratha airports in Western Australia.
The boys, aged 14 and 11, packed the weapons in their checked-in luggage on a Qantas flight from Karratha to Perth late on Monday.
The West Australian reported that on arrival in Perth, they retrieved the baggage and checked in for a Jetstar flight to Cairns, where they were arrested while attempting to board a third flight to outback Queensland.
Qantas has admitted that “explosive trace detection†X-ray machines failed to pick up the ammunition.
As well as ammunition, their baggage allegedly contained a Ruger revolver, a .22-calibre pistol, 14 knives and an assortment of other weapons.
A Qantas spokesman told the West Australian it was aware of the incident but there was “absolutely no flight security threatâ€.
