Why Internet Thinks Carrying This School Project On Flight Is A Bad Idea

An air traveller’s innocuous question posted on Reddit brought plenty of laughter and some genuine worry when it went viral on a r/AirTravelIndia subreddit. “Will this cause suspicion to airport security

? Its just a sensor based Arduino School project. I hope this wont cause any problems for us. I am also carrying a handheld AQI meter with me (sic),” the user asked. At first glance, it appeared to be a query that required little thought. But strict air safety guidelines, especially in the country, posed a massive question mark in the heads of the online community.

What is an Arduino project, you ask?

Arduino Education

The course provides middle school, high school, and university students with kits, online courses, and tools to master electronics, coding, robotics, and IoT through fun, project-based activities, with no prior experience needed. The project enhances real-life problem-solving skills and enables critical thinking.

“Is It Safe?”

Worried about being flagged as suspicious by the airport security, the Reddit poster shared a photograph of the project. Needless to say, it raised some eyebrows as the fellow community users were caught off guard by the sensor-based contraption.

Here’s how it looked:

Can I carry Arudino School Project in flight ?
byu/Desperate-Ad-3098 inAirTravelIndia

How Did Reddit React?

With apprehension and jokes.

“CISF makes me take out the umbrella from my bag — they are going to loose their sh*t when they see this. Just let them know in advance and be prepared that you may have to spend some time with them while they get their expert to look at it (sic),” wrote one user in response.

“Ts looks like a recipe for disaster (sic),” typed another.

When asked, the OP, a school or college student, stated that the project was for a competition, suggesting that they wouldn’t travel if they couldn’t carry it with them.

Also Read: Why Power Banks Are Banned From Checked Luggage: Fire In ‘Plane’ Sight

Cabin or check-in?

The air travel community was divided.

“Take it in a transparent plastic box and keep it on yourself (cabin luggge). If possible, disassemble the setup. Have the event details/project handy incase you’re questioned (sic),” responded one in favour of carrying it on the deck.

“Disassemble your circuit. Pack all the components individually. That will raise less suspicion than a sketchy wired up circuit (sic).”

“Check in buddy, check in. Not cabin. Put it in your suitcase, and drop it in at the counter, and then proceed thru Security with your cabin bag. You may mostly still be detained, if that’s the case, then show the bills and documentation (sic),” suggested another user who advised the anxious passenger to pack the project in a suitcase and have it checked in.

Some others raised concerns.

“What if it’s an actual bomb and we’re all assisting you in making the authorities believe it is not?” posed one morbidly.

Comment
byu/Desperate-Ad-3098 from discussion
inAirTravelIndia

What Items Are Prohibited In Domestic Travel?

Taking IndiGo, one of the most profitable airlines in the world, into consideration, there is an extensive list of items that are either prohibited as checked baggage or cabin baggage or both.

“Knives, scissors, Swiss army knives and other sharp instruments
Toy replicas of fire arms and ammunition
Weapons such as whips, nan-chakus, baton, or stun gun
Electronic devices which cannot be switched off
Aerosols and liquids*
Any other items which are deemed security hazards by local law,” IndiGo lists as items that cannot be brought onboard.

As for checked baggage, IndiGo, among all major airlines in the world, prohibits checking in power banks and batteries as they can lead to fire in the cargo hold area, which is hard to access and physically extinguish at 35,000 feet.

Lighters and matchboxes are neither permitted onboard nor can they be packed in checked baggage.

If you have any doubts about an item that could trigger security concerns, contact your airline well before departure. Doing so avoids inconvenience for yourself and others while preventing queues, delays, and potential confiscation.