Michael, 64, and Kathryn, 72, Roper were enjoying a drink in the departure lounge at Leeds and Bradford Airport when they found the sharp knife in her bag, prompting alarm
A British couple inadvertently caused a security stir when they breezed through airport checks with a 10-inch steak knife in their luggage.
Michael, aged 64, and Kathryn Roper, 72, were left gobsmacked after sailing through Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) security, only to discover the sizeable blade nestled in her bag while sipping pints in the departure lounge, eagerly anticipating their flight to their Spanish holiday home.
The sharp discovery, featuring a six-inch blade, was made as the couple from Oxenhope, near Bradford, Yorkshire, were about to embark on their sunny getaway. Kathryn recalled how the knife ended up in her possession after using it to slice some cake during a visit to her stepfather earlier that day, an innocent oversight that led to the alarming find.
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Upon realising the blunder, the Ropers promptly alerted the security team, who confiscated the blade.
Michael criticised the effectiveness of the security process: “It’s pretty rubbish, either the scanners were not working properly, or the bloke looking at the bag station has not been paying attention.
“My wife had been down to see her elderly step-dad, she took a knife and some cake for him. She put the knife in her bag, picked up our passports, bags, etc. and off we went. We went through security, sat having a beer and she pulled it out and she was like ‘oh my God’. Both of us fought it was shocking no one noticed – we couldn’t believe it.”
The pub-owning pair noted that upon their arrival at LBA, they passed through modern scanners designed to allow passengers to keep liquids inside their carry-ons.
After discovering what they’d brought through with them, the couple were initially uncertain about how to proceed, but ultimately Michael decided to pocket the knife, return through security, and alert the head of security.
Michael recounted: “We were stuck with an offensive weapon, a sharp steak knife, airside. You can’t put it into a bin, you’ve got a responsibility, it could get into the wrong hands, we all know what can happen. You can’t just give it to a member of the public there.
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), located in Yeadon, confirmed that an internal investigation is currently in progress. An airport spokesperson said: “As the incident is under investigation internally, we can’t comment any further.”
This summer hoolidaymakers have been urged to plan ahead and do their research before travelling abroad to avoid being caught out by hand luggage rules. The Transport Secretary has told air passengers to assume the 100ml limit on liquids in hand luggage remains in place, after two airports changed their policies.
To avoid confusion, make sure you check out guide of the UK’s major airports and their security policies.
