Believing he'd buried a bomb in his belongings, a Scottish traveller was stopped by airport security. What they discovered caused meatier-ic mirth.
Ian Blake, a Scotsman, was travelling home to celebrate Burns night this weekend. With his bags packed and ready, he was alarmed to be pulled aside when going through airport security.
Returning to Inverness, Blake remembered having his traditional knife, the sgian dubh, stashed in his suitcase and assumed this was the cause of the trouble.
He was stunned as security stated that they had reason to believe he was smuggling a bomb. As they went through his luggage, security completely ignored the knife; traditionally worn on the leg, and went straight for the haggis.
Along with Scotch whisky, the haggis is traditionally consumed as part of a special supper to commemorate the poet Robert Burns. Its main components are sheep's offal, onion and herbs: not your usual incendiary!
Scotland's national dish apparently fooled the staff because its shape, consistency and weight were equivalent to those of a bomb. As they sliced into the sheep's gut, the embarrassed staff discovered it really was just a Burns night meal, wrapped in plastic. Satisfied that no-one was at risk, Ian Blake was free to go.
Although this Burns night is likely to be one Ian Blake won't forget in a hurry, the only thing exploding at his party, will be eruptions of that famous Scottish laughter. Blake immediately saw the funny side, saying it was "highly amusing". He felt the joke was lost on the security staff, whom he called "Po-faced".
When asked to comment about the incident, a member of staff from Birmingham airport sheepishly stated that security was their primary concern. He felt no apology was needed.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
