- 771.5 million (771,556,886) passengers traveled securely through 440 federalized airports in 2017. That’s over 2 million travelers a day!
- A record setting 3,957 firearms were discovered in carry-on bags at checkpoints across the country, averaging 76.1 firearms per week. That’s an average of 10.8 firearms per day.
- 3,324 (84 percent) of the total firearms discovered were loaded.
- 1,378 (34.8 percent) of the total firearms discovered had a round chambered.
- The most firearms discovered in one-month – a whopping 29 - were discovered in August at the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
- Firearms were intercepted at a total of 239 airports.
- There was a 16.7 percent (556 more) increase in firearm discoveries from 2016’s total of 3,391.
Top 10 Airports For Firearm Discoveries In 2017:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL): 245 (222 Loaded)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW): 211 (165 Loaded)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport - Houston (IAH): 142 (124 Loaded)
- Denver International (DEN): 118 (102 Loaded)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX): 115 (109 Loaded)
- Tampa International (TPA): 97 (90 Loaded)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO): 94 (82 Loaded)
- Dallas Love Field (DAL): 93 (81 Loaded)
- Nashville International (BNA): 89 (71 Loaded)
- Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA): 75 (60 Loaded)
In addition to firearms discovered last year, there were many hazardous items passengers attempted to travel with. Pictured above are just a sampling of some of the items discovered in 2017.
Clockwise from the top left of the photo:
- A checked bag containing an ammunition box with three live ground burst simulators, two live M83 smoke grenades, and one inert practice grenade was discovered at the Palm Springs International Airport (PSP).
- A live flashbang grenade was discovered in a carry-on bag at the San Diego International Airport (SAN).
- A live smoke grenade was discovered in a carry-on bag at the Raleigh–Durham International Airport (RDU). Not only do smoke grenades deploy a thick blanket of smoke, they also burn extremely hot and are considered hazmat.
- A one-pound bottle of gun powder was discovered in a checked bag at the Ketchikan International Airport (KTN). Gun powder is never permitted on an aircraft..
- Five one-pound bottles of gun powder were discovered in a checked bag at the Boise Airport (BOI).
- A ten-ounce container of gun powder was discovered in a checked bag at the Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). While properly packed ammunition is allowed in checked bags, gun powder is strictly prohibited altogether.
Officers also find inert items that appear very realistic. The problem with these types of items is that when they're being viewed on the X-ray monitor, we don’t know if they’re real, toys, or replicas until TSA explosives experts are called upon. Inert items can lead to closed terminals and checkpoints, which often result in costly canceled or delayed flights.
Clockwise from the top left of the photo:
- An inert explosives device was discovered in the carry-on bag of a Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) traveler. The traveler stated it was a training aid.
- A realistic replica suicide vest and claymore mine were discovered in a traveler’s checked bag at the El Paso International Airport (ELP). The traveler was an explosives ordnance disposal contractor and the items were used as training aids. Instructors needing to travel with inert explosives training aids should plan ahead and find another way to transport their training aids.
- Inert prototype projectile munitions for energetic drilling were discovered in a checked bag at the Spokane International Airport (GEG).
- Inert ordnance discovered in a checked bag at the Tampa International Airport (TPA).
- An inert M107 Howitzer projectile was discovered in a checked bag at the San Jose International Airport (SJC).
- An inert land mine utilized for military training was discovered in a traveler’s checked bag at the La Crosse Municipal Airport (LSE).
- Inert blocks of explosives were detected in a traveler’s carry-on bag at the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP). This wasn’t a test. It was a military instructor who stated that he forgot they were in his bag.
Travelers continue to pack inert hand grenades in their carry-on and checked bags. As mentioned above, when being viewed on the X-ray monitor, we don’t know if these are real or inert until TSA explosives experts are called upon. Inert grenades can lead to closed terminals and checkpoints, which often result in costly canceled or delayed flights.
A total of 198 prohibited items were deliberately hidden in attempts to sneak them through security in 2017. This is known as “artful concealment” and can lead to fines, arrests, and missed flights.
From left to right:
- A comb dagger was discovered in a carry-on bag at the Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ).
- A knife was found concealed inside a stick of deodorant in a carry-on bag at the Bradley International Airport (BDL).
- A stun gun disguised as a tube of lipstick was discovered in a carry-on bag at the Baltimore–Washington International Airport (BWI).
- A sword cane was discovered in a traveler's accessible property at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
- A brush dagger was discovered in a carry-on bag at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
- A stun cane was discovered in a traveler's accessible property at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).
- A lipstick knife was discovered in a carry-on bag at the Tulsa International Airport (TUL).
Our officers discover thousands upon thousands of sharp items in carry-on bags every year. These are just a few of the sharp items discovered last year in carry-on bags.
The year also provided the need for travelers to surrender a few odd items. In case you missed it, be sure to check out our video rundown of TSA’s Top 10 Most Unusual Finds of 2017!
As you can see from this post, some travelers pack the strangest items. Make sure your items are allowed by referring to our prohibited items list. If you still can’t find the answer, reach out to our @AskTSA team via Twitter or Facebook Messenger and they’ll get back to you right away with an answer. You can even send them a photograph of the item in question.
If you’re grabbing a bag, suitcase, briefcase, jacket or other item you haven’t used in a while, be sure to give it the onceover so you don’t accidentally take something prohibited to the checkpoint. Many people who have brought guns, ammunition, knives and other prohibited item say that they did so unknowingly. You can travel with your firearms in checked baggage, but they must first be declared to the airline. You can go here for more details on how to properly travel with your firearms. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should familiarize themselves with state and local firearm laws for each point of travel prior to departure.
TSA may impose civil penalties of up to $13,066 per violation per person for prohibited items violations and violations of other TSA regulations. Repeat violations will result in higher penalties.
Thanks for reading this year’s run down. Keep in mind that far more was discovered than what was listed in this post.
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Bob Burns
