U.S. to ban cigarette lighters on all flights
WASHINGTON — Airline passengers are going to have to leave their cigarette lighters at home, under a policy announced Monday by the Transportation Security Administration.
The ban, which takes effect April 14, will also prohibit lighters inside checked baggage. Passengers will still be allowed to carry matches — at least for now.
“The ban is not an attack on smokers,” said Yolanda Clark, a spokeswoman for the agency. “This is a serious security measure that is intended to reduce security vulnerabilities.”
The ban is required under a provision of the intelligence overhaul bill that Congress passed late last year. It was motivated by the case of the so-called shoe bomber, Richard C. Reid, who tried to light an improvised explosive device while on a plane to the United States from Paris in December 2001.
The FBI is said to have concluded that if Reid had had a lighter, instead of matches, the bomb probably would have been set off.
Passengers who arrive at an airport security screening point after April 14 with lighters will have to surrender them if they want to fly, Clark said. If a passenger intentionally tries to hide a lighter, he might be fined, she said.
Yep I saw that JellyJam and thought it was a good thing, but what REALLY SURPRISED ME was this ban was not already in effect and enforced. I'm shocked.