How not to look like a terrorist at a US airport

Airport security is operating on a hair trigger in North America since the attempt to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's botched effort to bring down flight 253 has left security distinctly twitchy and there have been several false alarms since then. If you don't want to close down an airport, then here are some things you should avoid:

DON'T spend too long in the looTwo days after the failed Christmas Day plot a Nigerian man on the very same Northwest flight from Amsterdam to Detroit sparked a panic by spending too long in the lavatory. Passengers became suspicious and tipped off cabin crew. When the passenger refused to come out, despite air marshalls banging on the door, the situation became so tense that the President was notified.

When he did eventually emerge it transpired that he had been suffering from the runs. Angry at being disturbed he was verbally abusive. As a matter of caution, the flight was met by emergency vehicles and ordered to taxi to a remote part of the airport where all luggage was rescreened. The Department of Homeland Security had to issue a statement saying that after being interviewed by the FBI, it was accepted that "the individual's behaviour is due to legitimate illness".

DON'T get over emotional at a gate:A terminal at Newark Liberty airport was closed for six hours on January 3 after a man slipped past security for a final goodbye clinch with his girlfriend. The couple had said an emotional farewell at a passenger screening point. But video footage showed that, when the security guard stepped away from his post, the woman lifted a rope and the man ducked underneath into the secure area to kiss her goodbye again.

The breach was spotted and reported by another passenger and the terminal was closed down. Thousands of passengers were forced to go through security for a second time when the airport finally reopened six hours later.

Footage of the incident was released by New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg who described the incident as an "outrage" and the hapless security guard has been suspended.

DON'T carry pungent gifts:On January 5, Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield, 100 miles north of Los Angeles, was shut down and evacuated and flights diverted elsewhere after a passenger was found carrying bottles of what turned out to be honey.

A bag belonging to 31-year-old gardener Francisco Ramirez set of an alarm in a luggage-screening machine and upon further inspection was found to contain some bottles of what was described as a "suspicious-looking liquid."

Swabs then tested positive for explosives and when two worried security staff smelled the liquid they were overcome by the fumes and had to be rushed to hospital.

However, further tests revealed that the bottles had been filled with honey rather than anything more sinister. Officials were unable to explain why it had tested positive for explosives and hospitalised the screening staff. ·