Knives in the Sky?
By: NBC News
Updated: March 7, 2013
Two powerful groups in commercial aviation remain outraged over the TSA's decision to allow passengers to carry small knives on planes and they want the agency to reconsider.
The TSA says removing the ban on small knives on board commercial flights removes a distraction for screeners who need to search for more serious threats.
""We are trying to focus on the highest risks, that being the non-metallic improvised explosive devices," says TSA Administrator John Pistole.
But the TSA's new knife policy has caused an uproar.
Two groups, one representing federal air marshals, the other flight attendants, want the TSA to reconsider.
"It's outrageous and I'm hearing outrage from flight attendants throughout the country. This cannot stand," says Association of Flight Attendants Vice President Sara Nelson.
Folding pocketknives with blades no longer than just over two inches can be carried on.
The bigger ones, with fixed blades or blades that lock into place with molded handles can not.
Box cutters and razor blades are still banned from inside the passenger cabin as well.
Nelson argues even the small ones are still weapons.
""It doesn't make any sense to me because I'm a flight attendant who works in the cabin, and my job is to act as a first responder and the last line of defense," she says.
The TSA says security improvements on passenger jets make the ban on small knives no longer necessary and plan to implement the new rules April 25th.
