ACSA explains why syringes are allowed on planes

Deidre Hendricks, an Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) spokesperson, says syringes are allowed on board South African flights due to health reasons. Hendricks was responding to the question of the day: how did the botched hijacking suspect get through security with a life threatening object?

Hendricks says that in general, objects considered as weapons would not be permitted on aircrafts. These include scissors, pen knives and nail clippers – an amendment made after the aircraft hijackings in New York on September 11 2001.

The 21-year-old suspect, believed to be a University of Cape Town student, will appear in the Bishop Lavis Magistrate's Court tomorrow. He will face charges of attempted hi-jacking of an aircraft and for assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The suspect is alleged to have threatened a flight attendant with a syringe, demanding entry into the cockpit. Three passengers tackled and knocked him out before cuffing him to a seat.

Dangerous syringe contents
David Klatzow, a Cape Town forensic expert, says that the contents of the syringe used by the suspect could have possibly been extremely dangerous.

“One can carry various materials in a syringe and those can range from materials which are very lethal. They are organophosphate and they have toxins ... It can have almost a spontaneous effect on people into which it is injected,” said Klatzow.

William Booth, a Cape Town criminal law attorney, says the suspect could be prosecuted according to the Aviation Act.

“Obviously, the final decision with regards to the charges rests with the police, in conjunction with the prosecuting authorities. So we have to wait and see what exactly they're going to be … it's certainly a severe situation and he could expect direct imprisonment,” Booth said.

SABC News