World Gun T-shirt 'was a security risk'

[The Helper]

A man wearing a T-shirt depicting a cartoon character holding a gun was stopped from boarding a flight by the security at Heathrow's Terminal 5.

Brad Jayakody, from Bayswater, central London, said he was "stumped" at the objection to his Transformers T-shirt.

Mr Jayakody said he had to change before boarding as security officers objected to the gun, held by the cartoon character.

BBC NEWS | UK | England | London | Gun T-shirt 'was a security risk'

news.bbc.co.uk

 

[ScarletBlade]

Wow.... Just wow... I could understand if it was like something other than transformers... "Hey Everyone! I wear a Transformer shirt, my favourite movie but I have a gun. Now excuse me ma'am where do I sit?"

 

[Wiseman_2]

Goddamn jobsworths and overzealous staffing. Heathrow's a mess altogether, Terminal 5 was a farce and fell apart and now people's luggage is lost somewhere because they couln't hire semi-competant baggage handlers.

Ah well, I live further north anyway so we use Manchester airport.

 

[turok255]

Okay now airport security is just getting so stupid.... FEAR MY TRANFORMERS SHIRT! The gun will shoot you!

 

[Asehujiko]

What's next? Banning people because they have a "violent" song on their ipod?

 

[Seb!]

"If it's offensive, we don't want other passengers upset."

I think passengers have enough to worry about. Flying is the worst experience I have to deal with regularly. It's terrible, sitting in a cramped space, unable to sleep for hours. The same romantic comedies play over and over again on a TV that you have to stretch to see, which you inevitably do, killing your neck. A t-shirt with Optimus Prime on it is the least of my worries.

 

[mushroom911]

Lol

A t-shirt with Optimus Prime on it is the least of my worries.

-thought that was megatron?

anyways, again: whats this world coming to... or america atleast (happy here on ma north--wayyy north (east) island)

 

[sqrage]

anyways, again: whats this world coming to... or america atleast (happy here on ma north--wayyy north (east) island)

"BBC NEWS | UK | ENGLAND | LONDON"

"Brad Jayakody, from Bayswater, central London, said he was "stumped" at the objection to his Transformers T-shirt."

Yea, America. Totally.

 

[Ninva]

They were probably worried about gang activity. There is a possibility that a local gang wears Transformer Shirts or gun designs as a uniform. Also, the staff's ignorance to the movie could easily add to their decision. I think this is absolutely fine, and those who honestly complain about it really need start thinking about the more important things in life.

 

[WastedSavior]

I look at him and think "nerd"
not "Gun totting terrorist hell bent on using the aircraft as a means to a horrific fiery end that could damage the economy or even worse, destroy the fabric that this nation is built upon."

:thdown:

 

[Dakho]

Lol this is just too funny, what did they think he was, some psycho nerd fan?
'look at the shirt, it can kill people! buahahahahaha *closelined*'

But really airport security is rediculous.

 

[esb]

I agree with Ninva, change the shirt, move on. Not a big deal...
Don't like it? Use another airline.

To wastesavior, I would have though Columbine or Virginia Tech

 

[Vicboy]

Though I know this is in London, I REALLY hate the security in America, they treated us like shit. Maybe London is just the same... How would THEY react if a 13 year old kid wears a Scar Face TShirt?

If this ever happen to me, my mom would flip and this would go international...

 

[Effane]

Just think how they would've reacted if he had brought his real transformer machine of death with laser guns and infinite missles. We have a serious threat with these well armed transformer nerds threatening to hold planes hostage for Mountain Dew and old comic books. Everyone underestimates the strength these small inactive cells of dungeon and dragons guys with bad acne have... until they strike!!

 

[robinremue]

Other passengers could get upset?

I was on a plane for 11 hours with a shirt saying: 'Once upon the cross' in a bloody red font... with pentagrams and other satanic symbols, and saying 'Deicide' on the front, which means GodMurder (and is a band btw)... and no one said I could wear my shirt lol

Weird people those flight dudes

Edit: Rofl, I just remember wearing a similar non-catholic shirt in the Vatican xD nobody said anything except my teacher ^^

 

[DDRtists]

Wow, thats crazy.
When I went to Florida a few years back with my bestfriend ( who now lives with us, lol ), on the trip back, he had like 5 of those "Wolfpack" fireworks, that you throw at the ground and they pop. They were in his pocket and everything, and he put them in the bin in airport security, and the lady that scanned them didn't say a thing, and just gave them back.

 

[darkRae]

I agree with Ninva, change the shirt, move on. Not a big deal...
Don't like it? Use another airline.

Depends.
What if you don't bring an extra T-shirt back then?
What if you're in a hurry and don't have time to queue and get a ticket for another airline?

 

[BlargIAmDead]

They were probably worried about gang activity. There is a possibility that a local gang wears Transformer Shirts or gun designs as a uniform. Also, the staff's ignorance to the movie could easily add to their decision. I think this is absolutely fine, and those who honestly complain about it really need start thinking about the more important things in life.

Ninva, which article did you read? Because in the one that's linked here, I didn't see anything even remotely suggesting some ridiculous, Broadway-musical-type gang that distinguishes itself through "Transformers" t-shirts, and even if there was one, that still wasn't the reason they pulled Mr. Jayakody off the plane. The only reason anybody on either side gave for it was that his shirt depicted a weapon...in the form of a laser gun carried by a walking toy robot! I don't care whether you've been living under a rock since the Eighties; there's no way you could interpret that picture as seriously offensive or threatening.

I'm sorry, guys. I know I'm normally on the side of law and order, and I'm probably going to disappoint you here, but this is re-goddarn-diculous.

I agree with Ninva, change the shirt, move on. Not a big deal...
Don't like it? Use another airline.

Esb, again, which article were you reading? Because in this one, it's the BAA that's going ape-poop over t-shirts, not the airlines that use its airport.

 

[EatShrooms]

...When flying on planes go police state

 

[esb]

Blarg, I did not care to read the article.

It's quite simple. You are using their service (yes I know you're paying). It is known to be a 'state of panic' where anything slightly suggestive of violence (even nudity) can cause you to not go on a plane. Simply wear a plain shirt, or maybe even wear it inside out. If you really want to keep your shirt on, drive.