With spring comes flowers and I’ve heard the flowers will be in full bloom in Skagit Valley this weekend! If you do decide to book a last minute flight to tip toe through some tulips, then follow these travel tips to ensure a thorn-free trip!
Between April 8 - 14, TSA screened 16.3 million passengers and found 91 firearms in carry-on bags. Of the 91 firearms discovered, 81 were loaded and 35 had a round chambered.
Bringing a firearm to the security checkpoint may lead to a civil penalty of up to $13,333 or an arrest.
If you need to travel with your guns ‘n roses, check out our transporting firearms and ammunition page to learn how to properly travel with your firearm. Also, remember to take a look at your airline’s policies and the laws at your destination as they can vary.
Review all the firearm discoveries from April 8 to 14 in this chart.
Real, replica or inert explosives are not allowed – at all. Don’t have an ‘Oopsie daisy’ moment; just go ahead and leave these items at home. In case you forgot, when TSA officers discover anything that resembles an explosive, they call an explosives specialist to assess the situation. This can lead to you missing your flight and overall just a bad thyme!
Pictured above from the left:
- A flower grenade was discovered in a carry-on bag at Santa Fe Regional Airport on April 9. Does it boom me? Does it boom me not? Don’t worry, no petals were plucked to determine the grenade was inert.
- TSA officers at San Diego International Airport found a flash grenade on April 9.
- During checked baggage screening at John F. Kennedy International Airport on April 13, TSA officers discovered a mortar round.
Be-leaf me when I say, attempting to conceal a prohibited item from our officers can result in a civil penalty or arrest. I’m not just pollen your leg, here!
Pictured above from the left:
- San Antonio International Airport TSA officers discovered a torch lighter in the groin area of a passenger during AIT screening on April 9. TSA also discovered a knife in their carry-on bag. Torch lighters are not allowed in carry-on or checked bags.
- A firearm wrapped in aluminum foil and placed inside a DVD player was discovered during checked baggage screening at John F. Kennedy International Airport on April 13. As if traveling with a DVD player wasn’t already suspicious. The passenger was arrested for criminal possession of a firearm.
This may bee stinging to you, but tasers, stun guns and shock weapons are not allowed in carry-on bags. They can be packed in checked bags if packed in a way that prevents an accidental buzz. However, we recommend checking your airline’s policy before packing.
Pictured above from the left:
- TSA officers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport discovered a stun gun disguised as a cellphone in a carry-on bag on April 10.
- A flashlight stun gun combo was located in a carry-on bag on April 9 by TSA officers at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Knives are not allowed in carry-on bags, and this includes your garden variety butterfly knife. Based on the number of knives we find each day, this is a frequent problem. So once and floral, let’s pack them knives in your checked bags. I hope thistle remind you to check your carry-on bag for knives.
Pictured above, top row from the left:
- A saw knife was discovered at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on April 12.
- TSA officers discovered not a butter knife, but a butterfly knife in a carry-on bag at Nashville International Airport on April 9.
- Boston Logan International Airport TSA officers located a knife in a carry-on bag on April 8.
Pictured above, middle row from the left:
- A throwing star was found in a Los Angeles International Airport carry-on bag on April 10.
- TSA officers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport found a push dagger on April 8.
- A meat cleaver was removed from a carry-on bag by Tennessee’s Tri-Cities Airport TSA officers on April 10.
Pictured above, bottom row from the left:
- Another push dagger was discovered at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on April 9.
- Another butterfly knife was found in a carry-on bag at Buffalo Niagara International Airport on April 10.
- On April 8, two throwing knives were discovered at the airport with the greatest FAA code – GTF or Great Falls International Airport.
Our mission at TSA is to ensure you get to your destination safely by keeping dangerous items off planes. The most common explanation we hear from travelers is “I forgot it was in my bag.” Don’t be that person. Save yourself some money and embarrassment and thoroughly check your bags for prohibited items before heading to the airport.
If you think this blog features all of the prohibited items we found between April 8 and 14, you’re mistaken. Every day our officers stop way more prohibited items than what is featured in this post. Like way more.
Remember to come prepared. For a list of prohibited items, be sure to use the What Can I Bring? tool. If you have questions about the security process, reach out to AskTSA on Twitter or Facebook Messenger. Our AskTSA team will happily answer even the most outlandish travel-related questions.
Want to know how many firearms we found last year? Check out our 2018 blog post.
Also, don’t forget to check out our top 10 most unusual finds video for 2018.
Want to learn more or see the other wacky finds? Follow us @TSA on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
Jay Wagner
