Why should travelers pay attention to prohibited and restricted items and avoid taking them while going for a flight?

Hazardous items

1. Firearms

Firearms and ammunition are strictly restricted when you enter a country unless you contact the embassy or consulate of that country about requirements and procedures and obtain the written authorization. These forbidden firearms include all types of firearms (pistols, rifles, shotguns, etc.), replica and imitation firearms, firearm parts (except sights and scopes), toy guns of all types and crossbows.

2. Drugs and medicines

There is also a restriction for drugs and medicines, since illegal drug and medicine importation, exportation, manufacture and sale are all strictly prohibited. Some of the restricted drugs can be taken aboard if there are particular medical conditions such as a chronic pain or authorizations (for instance, a written statement by your doctor or a physician's prescription),

3. Dangerous substances

Substances that are explosive, flammable, toxic or chemical are strictly restricted for they might harm others. Such substances include acids and alkalis, aerosol spray paint, ammunition, blasting caps, corrosive or bleaching substances, detonators and fuses, disabling or incapacitating sprays, explosives and explosive devices, fireworks, fire extinguishers, flammable liquid fuel, flares of all types, gas and gas canisters, grenades of all types, poisons, radioactive material, turpentine and paint thinner
Violations of the hazardous items regulations will result in fines and/or jail.

Potential dangerous items

1. Liquid

There are also restrictions and prohibitions for liquid except the following cases: liquid contained in a personal container with no more than 100 ml capacity; each passenger carrying only one transparent bag with a capacity of no more than 1 liter to carry this container; liquid bought in shops situated around the security checkpoints; liquid to be used during the flight for special purposes such as medicals or dietary needs.

2. Shape and blunt objects

Objects and instruments that are shape, blade or blunt are forbidden on the flight for they might be taken as an object to hurt others. The following are some of them: arrows, automatic knives or switchblades, axes, baseball and softball bats, billiard cues, cleavers, clubs and batons, rigid or flexible, crampons, cricket bats, darts, drills, fishing rods, golf clubs, hatchets, harpoons and javelins, hammers, hockey sticks, ice skates, knives, lacrosse sticks, machetes, martial arts equipment, open razors and blades, sabers, saws, screwdrivers, spanners, swords and sword canes, scalpels, scissors with blades longer than 6 cm, skateboards, ski poles and walking sticks and so on.

Others

Besides the items mentioned above, there are some other items that are prohibited under certain circumstances, you'd better check the airport security measures before packing.

The following items are prohibited (referring to the States) :

Ceramic tableware (if contain dangerous levels of lead),
Certain fish and wildlife (if without certificates)
Cultural artifacts and cultural property (art/artifacts) (if not permitted or still has ownership),
Dog and cat fur (prohibited in the States),
Food products (if not admissible),
Fruits and vegetables (if take with pests or relate to other prohibited issues),
Game and hunting trophies (need permission within the States),
Gold, (entry from Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Serbia, and Sudan are prohibited into the States)
Meats, Livestock, Poultry,
Merchandise from embargoed countries,
Pets (if not meet requirements),
Plants and seeds (if without import permits),
Soil (if without permits),
Textiles and clothing (exceeding amount will be charged duty),
Trademarked and copyrighted articles (if without authorizations)

This is only a general introduction.

The regulations for airline travel are becoming increasingly strict in recent years. And more prohibited items are announced due to new discoveries of potential dangers. If you want to travel by air, you should know what items are prohibited and restricted, and avoid taking them onto the airplanes. Otherwise, you may be detained at the security checkpoint and miss that important flight.