US airlines allow small scissors onto planes

US AIRLINE passengers will be allowed to carry small scissors and tools onto planes, reversing a rule that led to confiscation of many thousands of sharp objects at airports since the September 11 terror attacks, a Homeland Security Department official said yesterday.

Transportation Security Administration chief Kip Hawley will announce changes to the list of items prohibited in carry-on luggage and to the airport screening process, according to the official.

With federal air marshals on planes, bullet-proof cockpit doors, armed pilots and 100% screening of checked baggage, the threat of a terrorist taking over an aircraft has lessened since the September 11, 2001, attacks, the official said. The biggest concern now is explosives.