Lighters now banned from commercial flights – OTS

MANILA, Philippines — This will probably come as bad news to smokers but any kind of lighter will soon be banned from commercial flights with the new list of prohibited items on airports released on Monday by the Office for Transportation Security (OTS).

According to the OTS, under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC), the agency came up with the new list to jibe with safety regulations set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

OTS spokesperson Jonathan Maliwat explained that the agency had to revise the list of prohibited items on airports, which was previously based on the prevailing security challenges in the Philippines and was last updated in 2007.

“As a signatory to the Chicago Convention or Annex 17 of the ICAO, we have to abide by the international safety standards,” Maliwat said.

According to Maliwat, there are prohibited items on the list of other countries that are not in the OTS list. “A passenger from here risks arrest or a criminal charge when he gets to another country where the item he may be carrying is banned and even the possession of it is illegal,” the spokesperson told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

In a statement, the OTS said that the main objective of the issuance of the new list under a memorandum circular would be to address emerging threats to civil aviation from items that could destabilize aircrafts to concealed weapons.

“In the course of evolving levels of threat affecting transportation security in the international and domestic level, this office has revised its policy guidelines relative to prohibited items,” the agency explained.

The agency further said that the new list would set “standardized security screening operations” in all airports nationwide.

Maliwat assured the public that a comprehensive study was made to draft the updated list of items prohibited on airports.

A noticeable change in the list is the absolute ban on lighters in both carry-on and checked-in passenger baggage. Lighters were categorized under explosives and incendiary devices, all of which are absolutely banned on commercial flights.

The previous OTS prohibition list allowed a passenger to bring a lighter in both carry-on and checked-in luggage.

Under the new OTS memorandum circular, in carrying ammunition, firearms, and airguns, passengers have to show law enforcement authorities the pertinent documents to be allowed to bring them on the flight.

On the other hand, projectile-capable devices, including slingshots, bows and arrows, and crossbows, are allowed but they must be inside the checked-in luggage.

Among stunning devices, only teargas canisters are banned while the rest may be placed inside the checked-in baggage. Sharp-pointed and edged objects are not allowed on the plane but may be checked in, provided they are sheathed or securely wrapped. The similar regulation applies to workers’ tools and blunt instruments.

Among blunt instruments, only crutches and walking sticks are allowed in the flights, for obvious reasons, but they need to be screened.

Liquids, aerosols and gels labeled flammable, corrosive or toxic regardless of volume, are banned from commercial flights.