From April 25 in the United States, small pocket or penknives will be allowed back on-board. The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has in effect expanded its list of items to be allowed in the cabin.
Once again hockey sticks, golf clubs, and baseball bats, will be able to be stored in the overhead luggage lockers, which also goes for pocket knives with blades having a maximum length of 6 cm (2.36 inches). Concentrating on the real dangers is the main reason for this flexibility. After the attacks of 11 September 2001, the United States took drastic security measures; in particular, regarding items permitted on-board aircraft.
Since 2005 some objects have been again allowed in the cabin: small scissors, nail clippers and cigarette lighters, but, henceforth, the TSA will align with international standards. A change that divides certain American passengers, such as here, in Detroit airport. Regarding these new measures, defended particularly by the boss of Delta Airlines, the US Transportation Security Administration contends that other measures are still in force: air marshalls on some flights, cockpit doors secured, and even authorization for pilots to be armed. The debate concerning this relaxation, however, is not yet over. In June 2013, the US Government has finally renounced this measure.
