Air passenger security control | Traficom
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Transport and Communications Agency

Air passenger security control

The security screening of air passengers is governed by common rules in all EU countries. The rules aim to make travel as easy and smooth as possible without compromising safety and security.

Security screening ensures that passengers do not bring on board (on purpose or by mistake) articles or substances that may cause a danger during a flight. Even everyday items may be dangerous on board an aeroplane and therefore be subject to restrictions or completely banned on flights.

Luggage may not include flammable or explosive substances or substances that are toxic, corrosive or otherwise classified as dangerous.

Airlines may apply stricter restrictions than those listed on the Traficom website. We therefore recommend that you check your tickets or consult your airline to ensure that the items and substances you pack with you are allowed on board an aeroplane. Check in particular the instructions on liquids.

Tips on smooth security checks

  • Present all liquids you are carrying.
  • Take off your jacket, coat, belt and other outer clothing for screening.
  • Present your laptop and other large electrical devices for x-ray scanning.

Which items am I not allowed to take into security restricted areas at airports or on board aircraft?

Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 defines articles and substances that passengers are not allowed to take into security restricted areas at airports or on board aircraft.

ATTACHMENT 4-C

PASSENGERS AND CABIN BAGGAGE

LIST OF PROHIBITED ARTICLES

Without prejudice to applicable safety rules, passengers are not permitted to carry the following articles into security restricted areas and on board an aircraft:

(a)    guns, firearms and other devices that discharge projectiles — devices capable, or appearing capable, of being used to cause serious injury by discharging a projectile, including:

  • firearms of all types, such as pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns,
  • toy guns, replicas and imitation firearms capable of being mistaken for real weapons,
  • component parts of firearms, excluding telescopic sights,
  • compressed air and CO2 guns, such as pistols, pellet guns, rifles and ball bearing guns,
  • signal flare pistols and starter pistols,
  • bows, cross bows and arrows,
  • harpoon guns and spear guns,
  • slingshots and catapults;

(b)    stunning devices — devices designed specifically to stun or immobilise, including:

  • devices for shocking, such as stun guns, tasers and stun batons,
  • animal stunners and animal killers,
  • disabling and incapacitating chemicals, gases and sprays, such as mace, pepper sprays, capsicum sprays, tear gas, acid sprays and animal repellent sprays;

(c)    objects with a sharp point or sharp edge — objects with a sharp point or sharp edge capable of being used to cause serious injury, including:

  • items designed for chopping, such as axes, hatchets and cleavers,
  • ice axes and ice picks,
  • razor blades,
  • box cutters,
  • knives with blades of more than 6 cm,
  • scissors with blades of more than 6 cm as measured from the fulcrum,
  • martial arts equipment with a sharp point or sharp edge,
  • swords and sabres;

(d)    workmen's tools — tools capable of being used either to cause serious injury or to threaten the safety of aircraft, including:

  • crowbars,
  • drills and drill bits, including cordless portable power drills,
  • tools with a blade or a shaft of more than 6 cm capable of use as a weapon, such as screwdrivers and chisels,
  • saws, including cordless portable power saws,
  • blowtorches,
  • bolt guns and nail guns;

(e)    blunt instruments — objects capable of being used to cause serious injury when used to hit, including:

  • baseball and softball bats,
  • clubs and batons, such as billy clubs, blackjacks and night sticks,
  • martial arts equipment;

(f)    explosives and incendiary substances and devices — explosives and incendiary substances and devices capable, or appearing capable, of being used to cause serious injury or to pose a threat to the safety of aircraft, including:

  • ammunition,
  • blasting caps,
  • detonators and fuses,
  • replica or imitation explosive devices,
  • mines, grenades and other explosive military stores,
  • fireworks and other pyrotechnics,
  • smoke-generating canisters and smoke-generating cartridges,
  • dynamite, gunpowder and plastic explosives.

ATTACHMENT 5-B

HOLD BAGGAGE

LIST OF PROHIBITED ARTICLES

Passengers are not permitted to carry the following articles in their hold baggage:

explosives and incendiary substances and devices — explosives and incendiary substances and devices capable of being used to cause serious injury or to pose a threat to the safety of aircraft, including:

  • ammunition,
  • blasting caps,
  • detonators and fuses,
  • mines, grenades and other explosive military stores,
  • fireworks and other pyrotechnics,
  • smoke-generating canisters and smoke-generating cartridges,
  • dynamite, gunpowder and plastic explosives.
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