Flying With Mace And The Role It Played In 9/11.

Flying with any substance seems to be a toss-up these days, leaving us to wonder if we will be allowed to board the plane, or even just make it through the screening process. Just the thought of trying to sneak a banned item through airport security is enough to cause disturbing thoughts of spending hours alone in a private screening room, with a gloved TSA agent lurking nearby.nnFor those who take their own self defense seriously, perhaps with the aid of security sprays, traveling can cause some consternation. After all, if we are not allowed to carry any weapons on the plane, how are we supposed to protect ourselves in a strange new city?nnRest assured, you are allowed to bring many items relating to self defense and personal protection on board an aircraft, provided you follow certain rules. However, make sure you ask your individual airline about their requirements before you show up at the airport with your security spray and mace baton. nnCarrying Mace on a Plane :nn Mace or any other kind of safety spray tear gas is not allowed within the passenger compartment of any aircraft. Aside from the potential of having mace used to commit an in-flight crime, the air of the passenger compartment is re-circulated and pressurized. This means one burst Mace safety spray canister, and the whole plane gets a face full.nnIf you wish to carry your Mace or security spray with you when you travel, declare the item and carry it in your checked luggage. Each passenger is allowed to possess one canister of tear gas, up to four ounces in size. The canister must include a safety mechanism that prevents the product from accidentally becoming deployed during the flight. Airline crews do not want to risk plane contamination from a burst container or accidental deployment. Nor do you want your flight crew to be operating with a face full of Mace.nnMace and the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks :nn When American Airlines flight 11 departed from Boston on the morning of 9/11/2001, there were nine flight attendants on board in addition to the cockpit crew, seventy five passengers, and five terrorists.nnAs the Boeing 767 was given its final instructions to climb to a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet, it disappeared from all radio contact. The next time anyone would hear from the plane, it was hijacker Muhammad Atta relaying the message, “We have some planes, just stay quiet and you’ll be okay. We are returning to the airport.” Two more messages of similar content were relayed by Atta, who thought he was speaking to the passengers but had pushed the wrong button, and he was relaying the message instead to the Boston Control Center. A short time later the aircraft plowed into the north tower of the World Trade Center.nnTwo of the hijackers, including Atta, were sitting in the second row of first class. Shortly after takeoff, Atta and his fellow hijackers stabbed the two first class flight attendants, and then deployed Mace into the airplane to force the rest of the passengers and flight crew to the rear of the plane. Using the Mace as part of their attack allowed the hijackers to gain control of the plane very quickly and with little resistance.nnSince the attacks of September 11, 2001, flight regulations have understandably become much stricter in terms of what is and is not allowed on board an airplane. Given the volatile nature of Mace and its painful effects, it is understandable why this safety spray is no longer allowed to be carried within the confines of the passenger compartment of commercial aircraft.