X-Ray Image of Toy Gun Startles Canadian Airport Security

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. (CP) - The X-ray image of a gun startled airport security during a routine baggage scan.

A piece of luggage being checked onto an Air Canada flight out of Prince George on Monday morning produced the image of a handgun on their screens, causing a swift alert to go into effect.

Police were called to the airport to assist. The owner of the luggage, a male whose name was not disclosed, was identified and detained, but the situation was soon understood.

The gun was a replica.

RCMP spokesperson Const. Gary Godwin says the traveller did everything right. He secured documentation in advance, he disclosed the fact that he was carrying a replica handgun in his luggage and it was documented.

Godwin says there was a mix-up somewhere between the ticket agent and the security screening.

Somehow the documentation that explained the fake or toy gun was misplaced before the luggage reached security personnel.

All luggage, whether for carry-on or check-through, is x-rayed for safety. Security staff had no warning they would be seeing the image of a gun as they conducted that screening.

''Air Canada apologized to everybody, and it was all OK. There are no charges pending and no warnings issued,'' says Godwin. ''Everything was done properly and appropriately, there was just a miscue. The silver lining in all this is all the security features of the airport are working well. They caught it, so all the more power to them."

(Prince George Citizen)

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