Security Scares At Pearson Airport Cause Major Delays On Consecutive Nights

On Sunday, for the second night in a row, a security breach delayed flights at Pearson International Airport and for the second time it involved an Air India jet.

Some planes at Terminal 3 were grounded Sunday night after an elderly passenger was allegedly about to board and a second security check at the gate turned up a small pen knife.

That’s exactly what happened Saturday night when the discovery of six box cutters in a carry-on bag caused a big headache for hundreds on their way overseas. At least eight flights were grounded just before 11pm Saturday after an elderly couple boarding an Air India flight made it past initial security with about six box cutters and a potato peeler in their carry-on.

Box cutters are retractable knives with serrated edges and the discovery of the items forced officials to pull everyone off the plane and re-screen all passengers who were flying out. More than 1600 passengers were re-screened, causing a delay of more than three hours.

“We actually boarded on the plane and then we had to deplane and we are waiting here for hours and hours and hours,” said passenger Sanjiv Kumar Dhawan. “First we waited for approximately two hours in the plane itself and then we were told to de-plane.”

Others were equally frustrated.

“I don’t mind waiting around, but if the first inspection had been strict in the first place we would not have had to go through this,” said Kulin Gupta.

Peel Police said it appears the couple forgot to declare everything in their carry-on bags and went through the screening process. Procedures then require security officials to re-check all travelers.

“A member of security staff noticed these items before they were on board an aircraft,” aid Scott Armstrong of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. “That’s where Transport Canada got involved and decided to re-screen all the passengers.”

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