The popular kids' toy that's banned on flights across Europe

"Toy guns and weapons, often plastic replicas, are banned from many European airline in carry-on and checked baggage, despite them being popular with children. In TUI's luggage restrictions, it outlines the common toy specifically as a banned item. 'Toy guns, replicas, and imitation firearms that could be mistaken for real weapons,' it says."

"Ryanair echoes the same restrictions and explains how toy guns are 'strictly prohibited on board and in checked luggage'. The airline states, 'toy guns (including recreational guns such as paint ball guns), replicas and imitation firearms capable of being mistaken for real weapons,' are banned."

"EasyJet also prohibits any 'guns firearms and other devices that discharge projectiles' and include items that 'appear capable'. It explains how 'toy guns, replicas and imitation firearms capable of being mistaken for real weapons' are included in the restrictions. Jet2 outlines similar bans, and the airline's website states, 'toys/replica guns, plastic catapults, knives (regardless of length of blade), razor blades' and other items that ' in the opinion ofJet2.com, could be used to endanger the aircraft or any of its passengers' are not permitted in hand luggage."

"Back in 2015, a four-year-old boy was frisked by airport security and then forced to hand over his plastic nerf gun after it was deemed a security risk. James had arrived at East Midlands Airport with his parents, Phil, 44, and Hazel, 38, with his brightly coloured toy - which fires sponge darts - packed in his hand luggage for their flight out to Lanzarote. But security officers, who were described as 'over-zealous' by the boy's father, then took exception to James's harmless toy when it was picked up on the system's X-ray machines."

Many European airlines prohibit toy guns, replicas and imitation firearms in both carry-on and checked baggage due to security concerns. TUI, Ryanair, EasyJet and Jet2 list such items as banned, citing the risk of being mistaken for real weapons or being capable of discharging projectiles. Airline policies specifically name toys and replica guns, plastic catapults and similar devices among prohibited items. Security procedures have led to incidents where children were required to surrender brightly coloured toy guns after X-ray screening identified them as potential risks to aircraft or passengers.

Read at Mail Online