A British couple sparked an airport security investigation after passing through with a 10-inch steak knife in their hand luggage.
Michael and Kathryn Roper were enjoying a pre-flight pint in the departure lounge at Leeds Bradford Airport when they made the shocking discovery.
They were carrying a sharp knife with a six-inch blade tucked inside her bag.
The retired couple, aged 64 and 72, were heading off to their holiday home in Spain when they realised the item had slipped through security undetected.
Kathryn, from Oxenhope near Bradford, said she had accidentally left it in her bag after using it to cut cake while visiting her stepfather earlier that day.
Stunned by the oversight, the pair immediately alerted airport security.
The knife was swiftly confiscated by the security chief, but the couple have said the blunder raises serious questions about safety.
Mr Roper said: ‘It’s pretty rubbish, either the scanners were not working properly, or the bloke looking at the bag station has not been paying attention.
Michael and Kathryn Roper were enjoying a pre-flight pint in the departure lounge at Leeds Bradford Airport when they made the shocking discovery
The couple were accidentally carrying a sharp knife with a six-inch blade tucked inside her bag
‘My wife had been down to see her elderly step-dad, she took a knife and some cake for him.
‘She put the knife in her bag, picked up our passports, bags, etc. and off we went.
‘We went through security, sat having a beer and she pulled it out and she was like ‘oh my God’.
‘Both of us fought it was shocking no one noticed – we couldn’t believe it.’
The incident comes as Leeds Bradford Airport, along with several others across the UK, has relaxed its hand luggage rules, now allowing passengers to carry up to 1000ml of liquids through security.
According to the pub landlords, when they arrived at the airport they went through the new scanners where you no longer have to take liquids out of your bags.
They then passed into the departure lounge and were sat having a pint when they came across the blade.
The couple have revealed they were unsure what to do but eventually decided the best course of action was for Michael to put the knife in his pocket walk back through security and notify the chief there.
Michael said: ‘We were stuck with an offensive weapon, a sharp steak knife, airside.
The knife was swiftly confiscated by the security chief, but the couple have said the blunder raises serious questions about safety. Pictured: Leeds Bradford airport in Yorkshire
‘You can’t put it into a bin, you’ve got a responsibility, it could get into the wrong hands, we all know what can happen.’
‘You can’t just give it to a member of the public there.’
‘When I got to the chief he scanned my boarding card and said ‘thanks, we’ll look into it’.’
Michael said the ordeal brought back memories of 9/11, saying more care should be taken to ensure nothing like this happens again.
The airport, which is in Yeadon, confirmed an internal investigation into the matter is underway.
A spokesperson said: ‘As the incident is under investigation internally, we can’t comment any further.’
