[MR] sewing notions on airplane?

[Grace Morris]

On Thursday, November 6, 2003, at 10:53 AM, Peters, Rise J. wrote:
> They can still be confiscated, because TSA says any screener can make 
> a discretionary decision not to let you board with things that aren't 
> on the proscribed list.

Good story:  My cousin is married to a pilot for one of the major 
airlines.  Soon after the crackdown he was going through security, as 
usual, when the screener asked him to give up something in his pocket.  
I think that it was a nail file, or something else not terribly 
threatening.  When he asked why he had to give it up, the screener 
answered, "Because it might be used to take over the plane."  At which 
point the pilot answered something like, "Hello? I'm the pilot. I have 
a very expensive door that locks me in my cabin. It's my JOB to take 
over the plane!"

Screeners can be very/overenthusiatic at times....

Jessamyn di Piemonte