TSA delays rule allowing small knives on planes

Travelers looking forward to once again being able to board a plane with a pocket knife will have to wait a little bit longer.

The Transportation Security Administration announced Monday that it is delaying a new rule that would allow passengers to bring small knives on planes just three days before it was supposed to take effect.

Other items including bats, golf clubs and other sports equipment that were going to be allowed under the new rule will also stay banned.

Flight attendants and air marshals were strongly opposed to changing the rule – which currently bars any type of small knife or blade from planes – and the TSA said it was delaying the rule to allow more time for debate.

"In order to accommodate further input from the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from the aviation community, passenger advocates, law enforcement experts, and other stakeholders, TSA will temporarily delay implementation of changes to the Prohibited Items List, originally scheduled to go into effect April 25," said a TSA spokesperson.

"This timing will enable TSA to incorporate the feedback about the changes to the Prohibited Items List and continue workforce training."

The TSA called the delay temporary but did not set a new start date.

If and when the rule does go into effect, knives with blades up to 2.36 inches will be allowed on planes for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorists hijacked four airplanes using box cutters.

TSA administrator John Pistole told a House Homeland Security subcommittee recently that allowing small knives would allow security personnel to focus on items that pose more serious threats to aviation.