How Knives Passed through Manchester Airport Security

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A man unintentionally managed to bring two knives through airport security without being stopped. Mark Harris, 51, was traveling from Manchester Airport to Malaga and had packed his luggage in a bag he had previously used for a camping trip. Unaware that the bag still contained two steak knives from his excursion to the Lake District, the oversight only came to light when his travel companion, Lisa, 52, asked to borrow a charger in the departure lounge, prompting Mark to discover the “weapons” in his bag.

Despite passing through a scanner, Mark, a father of one and former security manager, claims he took the knives through airport security without any intervention from the guards. He was left “mortified” upon realizing his mistake and immediately handed the knives over to the café manager in the departure lounge. Five minutes later, two security guards approached him, questioned him about his check-in, and searched his bag; they were reportedly “horrified” that he had managed to slip through but allowed him to continue on his journey.

Mark, from Liverpool, Merseyside, expressed disbelief at how the knives passed through security, saying, “How the knives got through the security scanners, I will never know.” He explained that the knives were from a camping trip and that he had not been abroad for seven years. Mark stressed it was a genuine mistake and reflected on the anxiety the incident caused him, worrying he might be prevented from flying due to carrying weapons unintentionally.

The situation was quickly resolved when Mark spoke to security, but he admitted he feared being stopped from flying. He recounted giving the knives to the catering manager and asking her to dispose of them, emphasizing, “She could see I was dead genuine anyways and I told her something needs to be looked at. Feedback is the best way to improve customer service.” The café manager then called colleagues, and security approached Mark in the bar area, attracting the attention of other passengers.

Mark described the scene, noting three alarmed passengers sitting nearby and how he calmly explained the situation to the café manager, saying, “If I could have a quick word and that I just wanted them gone.” The café manager was baffled by how the knives got through security, stating, “Who would try to smuggle two knives on the first holiday they’ve had in seven years?” Mark found the questioning by security intimidating but was even more disturbed that such a serious lapse in security occurred, leaving him with anxiety about packing for future holidays.

After handing the knives to the café manager, who passed them on to security, Mark was questioned in the departure lounge. He provided his flight details and explained the situation while trying to keep the interaction casual, saying, “I had no intention of using the weapon, but this security breach is really serious. They were trying to find who was not doing their job.” He expressed relief that he was not barred from flying and mentioned that the café manager indicated some re-training would take place.

Mark emphasized the importance of airport security, stating, “Their job is to protect people’s lives. It’s not just about protecting people on the plane, it’s about people walking around the airport and travelling.” Reflecting on the incident, he said, “The more I think about the worst case scenarios, the more it turns my stomach.” A spokesperson from Manchester Airport confirmed that passenger safety is their top priority, noting that the incident was investigated and appropriate action taken, with regular tests conducted to ensure security measures meet government standards.