An Israeli traveling to London on Monday was arrested by security forces when his bag had gone through the x-ray scanner to reveal a handgun.
The man, 61, was quickly escorted to an interrogation room, where he received a full body search. No other incriminating items were found, and security personnel, after questioning the man, became convinced the traveler had simply forgotten to leave his sidearm at home and did not pose a threat.
The gun was confiscated and the man was then allowed to board his flight to London.
In other flying-with-weapons and ammunition news, according to the Israel Consulate in Uzbekistan, last Thursday a discharged IDF soldier on his way to a vacation in Thailand was stopped and arrested on his layover flight in Tashkent, after local security discovered 13 rifle rounds in his handbag. They were not interested in his explanation, that he used to carry the bullets in the bag during his just-completed military service and simply forgot them there. The local consul has been trying to convince local authorities that the whole thing is a big mistake, but so far the young man may be facing court charges.
Israel’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying “alongside our obligation to help an Israeli in distress, the Foreign Ministry reiterates it warning to avoid flying abroad with weapons or ammunition.”