As Different As Air Travel Is Now, Some Things Just Never Change

by SharonKurheg

With few exceptions, coronavirus has negatively impacted just about every industry out there. Thousands of storefronts are closed, restaurants are offering takeout at best, and many services are unable to provide the same.

Not surprisingly, the travel industry has taken a huge hit and airlines and airports are reporting colossal decreases in passengers. However, despite all of this, there’s one area of aviation that hasn’t changed very much.

People trying to sneak stuff past the officers at the TSA checkpoint.

The Transportation Security Administration writes near-daily local press releases that usually include some of the things that people have tried to smuggle onto commercial planes. It’s usually loaded guns, although knives, grenades and other prohibited items can sometimes show up, too. They don’t list everything; it would be too much. I mean, they found nearly 4,500 firearms on or with passengers at the TSA checkpoints last year, on top of a bunch of explosives, knives, razors, etc.

Anyway, since the number of passengers at airports has decreased, so have the number of reported passengers with prohibited items. But don’t worry…they’re still there! Here are excerpts from the TSA’s press release page from March 11th onward (that’s the day the WHO said COVID-19 was a worldwide pandemic):

Screen Shot 2020-04-23 at 2.19.16 PMScreen Shot 2020-04-23 at 2.19.44 PMScreen Shot 2020-04-23 at 2.20.11 PMScreen Shot 2020-04-23 at 2.20.22 PMScreen Shot 2020-04-23 at 2.20.38 PMScreen Shot 2020-04-23 at 2.20.51 PM

So yep…as different as everything is, some things just never change. Doesn’t it make you feel all warm and cozy inside? (Joe: Stop bringing your loaded handguns on planes!!!!)

#stayhealthy #stayathome #washyourhands

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary

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