TSA to allow knives on planes for the first time since 9/11

By Keith Laing - 03/05/13 04:27 PM ET

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced Tuesday that it is relaxing its prohibitions on airline passengers carrying small knives and sporting equipment like golf clubs and toy baseball bats on to airplanes.

The agency said starting April 25, it will allow knives shorter than 2.36 inches long and one-half inch wide and bats shorter than 24 inches and weighing less than 24 ounces to be included in carry-on luggage.

The changes will mark the first time knives will be allowed on airplanes since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. They were announced by TSA Administrator John Pistole in a speech in New York on Tuesday.

TSA said in a statement after the speech that the changes were part of its shift to a more risk-based airport security system.

"TSA is taking small knives, novelty-sized bats and certain sporting equipment off of the Prohibited Items List starting April 25th, which will allow Transportation Security Officers to better focus their efforts on finding higher threat items such as explosives and/or improvised explosive device (IED) components," the agency said.

The agency added that the decision "aligns TSA with international standards and our European counterparts."

TSA stressed that allowing small knives on planes would not make flying less safe.

"Small knives, novelty-sized bats and certain sporting equipment are unlikely to result in catastrophic destruction of an aircraft," the agency said. "In the context of a layered approach to security, hardened cockpit doors further reduce the likelihood of breaching the cockpit. Federal Flight Deck Officers, crewmembers with self-defense training and Federal Air Marshals will help to ensure the safety of all crewmembers and passengers."

TSA said it will still maintain its prohibition on razor blades and box cutters and another knives that did not lock into a "solid position." The agency said it will also continue its ban on full-sized baseball bats made out of wood or aluminum.

However, TSA said the changes to its regulations included pool, hockey and lacrosse sticks, golf clubs and ski poles.