Yesterday when we were working on our last day of our pairing we noticed a headline on the front of the local newspaper. ((same headline as above)) Of course this intrigued all of us so we all huddled in the back galley and put our heads together and read the story.

Frank Luba, The Province 

Published: Thursday, November 29, 2007 

Richmond RCMP are reviewing a bizarre incident in which a Vancouver Island man managed to get a utility knife on to an international flight and smoked a cigarette in the Hong Kong-bound plane's bathroom.

The knife is a smaller version of the larger box-cutters that were used in the 9/11 New York terrorist attacks.

The man is also alleged to have groped a female passenger on the July 20 Air Canada flight, but police only recommended charges for possession of an offensive weapon, a Criminal Code violation, and smoking.

According to Canadian Aviation Regulations, smoking on an airplane is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000.

Prosecutors decided not to go forward with charges, Richmond RCMP spokeswoman Corp. Nycki Basra said yesterday.

«We're reviewing it again to see if there is anything further we can do,» said Basra.

Such reviews are «fairly typical» when police recommend charges but prosecutors don't proceed, she said.

«I would always conduct a review to see if there was anything else [to investigate] and speak to Crown and say, 'Is there anything else that was not done? Why are the charges not approved?'»

The matter has also been brought to the attention of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority to determine how the knife got through its security checks.

Basra said it was clear the passenger broke the rules.

«You can't even have nail-clippers on a flight now,» she said.

She couldn't explain why the charges didn't proceed.

«The decision to go with charges is not something that we have any control over. It's Crown's decision and their rationale is something only they can explain.»

Air Canada made the initial complaint about the incident, but spokeswoman Angela Mah declined to comment because an investigation is under way.

«This continues to be an ongoing matter and we are continuing to co-operate with the authorities in their investigation,» said Mah. «We continue to be actively involved with the RCMP and Transport Canada on this matter.»

OK so here are my questions;

1. WTF?

What the hell has happened here?

1. When it comes to CATSA¹ I have become extremely fed up with the lax job they have been doing.  They stand around, chatting away, fill up the seats in the boarding lounge like a gaggle of geese and then bitch and complain that they are over worked and under paid.  Fuck that!

   They are NOT doing their job. Simple as that. Almost once a month I am working and there is a security breach.
    

2. Why are charges NOT being laid?  It is extremely clear that smoking is not permitted on a flight - there are signs everywhere.  Why you ask is it such a big deal?  Well since it is not permitted people that try to smoke on an aircraft do stupid things to try and hide it. They panic and throw the cigarette butt in the garbage can which is full of paper towel.

   Science lesson - paper towel is highly flammable. Fire on a plane is bad bad bad.

While I am sure that the gentleman involved in this case is extremely relieved that no charges are being laid. How does this deter others from trying?  Do we need to have another incident and loss of life before something is done?

Where is the action against CATSA?  When will they be held accountable? Take a look at this other recent story on security breaches, «Scare for WestJet flight»

1. Canadian Air Transport Security Authority↩