What happens if security personnel find prohibited items during screening?

When security personnel find prohibited items during screening, the standard procedure is to confiscate those items. This practice is in place to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew members on the flight. Prohibited items are typically classified based on their potential threat to aviation security, such as weapons or dangerous substances that could compromise the safety of the aircraft or its occupants.

Confiscation serves multiple purposes. It removes potential hazards from the boarding area and ensures that individuals do not bring unsafe items into the cabin. Security protocols are designed to be stringent, and while some exceptions may be made for specific items under certain conditions (like medical devices with proper documentation), the general response to prohibited items is their removal.

Returning the items to the passenger is not typically feasible because that would defeat the purpose of ensuring safety. Additionally, the notion of taking no action based on the size of the items undermines the rigor of security screenings. Similarly, while there may be processes for passengers to inquire about decisions regarding their items, the immediate and standard response to finding prohibited items during screening is their confiscation to maintain security protocols.