Supporter’s fury as airport officials seize aftershave over hand grenade safety fear
Craig McDonald A Scotland fan had a bottle of aftershave seized as airpor t officials claimed it could be mistaken for a hand grenade.
Aileen Taylor was left furious when the gift she bought for her husband Alex sparked a security alert.
The 60-year- old bought the Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb at Tel Aviv duty free after watching Alex McLeish’s men slump to a shock 2-1 Israel defeat.
She flew back to Luton Airport and was about to head home via Gatwick when security staff took her bag.
Aileen, who was at the game earlier this month with Alex, claims security workers left other fragrances she purchased – but took the £ 75 aftershave which comes in a grenadeshaped bottle.
The off ice worker said: “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. They said there was a problem with the aftershave’s bottle and it could be mistaken for a hand grenade.
“We bought other perfumes – Jean Paul Gaultier and Hermes – and the Spicebomb at the duty free in Tel Aviv. This is ridiculous and isn’t protecting anyone.
“I’ve lost the amount I paid for the aftershave but I’m also annoyed at the lack of common sense.”
Aileen, who works for an HGV training company, was part of a 2000- strong Tartan A rmy c ont i n g ent who travel led to Israel for the Nations League game in Haifa on October 11.
She has supported Scotland for 50 years and has travelled to more than 30 countries suppor t i ng the nat ional team. The incident capped a miserable journey after her airline lost her luggage on the way to the match.
But she is already starting preparations for her excursion to Tirana for Scotland’s next match against Albania in November.
A i le en, of Gl a s gow’s Dennistoun, who f lew with easyJet, added: “It’s safe to say Israel wasn’t the best trip I’ve been on. We have it all to go through again in four weeks’ time against Albania.
“The trip is booked or we would probably think about giving it a miss af ter the result and performance in Israel.”
Security staff took the bottle af ter Aileen told them she couldn’t store it with the group’s luggage, which was already in the aircraft’s hold. A Gatwick Airport spokeswoman said: “The safety and security of passengers is always our top priority.
“Our security team took the precaution of requesting this aftershave was put into the passenger’s hold luggage because it was felt the shape of the bottle had the potential to cause unnecessary alarm.
“Security t eams a r e empowered to take such decisions, particularly if it prevents an unnecessary security alert at another point in the journey.”
An easyJet spokeswoman apologised for the “delay and inconvenience” over the misplaced bag.