Luton Airport Shut-down

ZeroImpurities

What's happening there?

Technoprisoner

according to sky news its a bomb scare after a checked on bag was flaged by a security scanner

ZeroImpurities

A bit extreme for a suspect bag?

Technoprisoner

ZeroImpurities wrote: »

A bit extreme for a suspect bag?

not if its really a bomb!!!

ZeroImpurities

Technoprisoner wrote: »

not if its really a bomb!!!

Lol, it never is though!

ZeroImpurities

I dunno, it just seems extreme. Maybe they got a warning like back in the IRA days.

fr336

Police confirm all is well again https://twitter.com/bedspolice/status/509018693863768064

markpb

There was a controlled explosion but the item is safe - did they miss!?

Thoie

What do they do if they blow up your suitcase but there was nothing dangerous/illegal in there? Presumably you wouldn't find out until you arrived at your destination, and at that point the airline would say it was the origin airport's problem.

You'll presumably be able to get some compensation from them when you get home, but that doesn't help your holiday much.

ZeroImpurities

Never bring yer GHD

Skuxx

Thoie wrote: »

What do they do if they blow up your suitcase but there was nothing dangerous/illegal in there? Presumably you wouldn't find out until you arrived at your destination, and at that point the airline would say it was the origin airport's problem.

You'll presumably be able to get some compensation from them when you get home, but that doesn't help your holiday much.

Maybe they just blow up the suspect device?
And I'd say if they thought you had a bomb in your suitcase, you'd know about it before you reached your destination!

ZeroImpurities

ZeroImpurities wrote: »

A bit extreme for a suspect bag?

What do you suggest they do ? Tickle it.

The exploding of the package will have been a controlled explosion conducted by the EOD explosive ordance disposal of the British army. They will have been called and checked the package by either visual or Xray examination and determined that it required opening. The explosion is controlled and it's usually a high powered WATER charge.

Thoie

Skuxx wrote: »

Maybe they just blow up the suspect device?
And I'd say if they thought you had a bomb in your suitcase, you'd know about it before you reached your destination!

Well, flying through Finland once, my electric toothbrush set itself off in my checked luggage. I was already airside. They didn't blow up my suitcase - there was a call over the intercom asking me to go to security. When I got there and identified myself, they took me into a room, and asked me to open the suitcase. I did, we were all happy, off we went (and my suitcase made it on the plane with me).

So, in this case, they spot something weird, and, let's say the person doesn't answer the page. Which could easily happen - I was called three times and didn't recognise the way they were pronouncing my name initially. But they know what flight you're on, so they could just nab you at the gate.

But either they think it's a bomb (in which case, they probably don't want you opening it to prove it), or they don't think it's a bomb (so why blow it up?).

I don't quite understand how they decide to blow up a suitcase. If I've left the airport after checkin, then yes, that's suspicious. But if I'm still in the airport surely the easiest thing would be to ask if you have anything that might look like semtex in your suitcase?

dazed+confused

Thoie wrote: »

I was called three times and didn't recognise the way they were pronouncing my name initially.

How do you pronounce Thoie?

Thoie

dazed+confused wrote: »

How do you pronounce Thoie?

Thoie is not the name on my passport! But I pronounce it to rhyme with Zoey.

Tenger

Thoie wrote: »

What do they do if they blow up your suitcase but there was nothing dangerous/illegal in there? Presumably you wouldn't find out until you arrived at your destination, and at that point the airline would say it was the origin airport's problem.

You'll presumably be able to get some compensation from them when you get home, but that doesn't help your holiday much.

I have a memory from approx 20 years ago. Playing a school basketball match in Belfast. Match started but the local school were missing a player. He turned up 30 minutes late with his sportsbag in bits. Army patrol had spotted him climbing over a wall with a bag on his bag, intercepted him and ended up using a high powered air blast to burst his bag. It looked like it had exploded, which it had in a way. We suspect he didn't co-operate with them, hence the full EOD procedure.

afatbollix

Remember that the UK security is at Severe at the moment meaning that an attack is likely. No one would be taking a chance at the moment.