Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Los Angeles International Airport were forced to call in the bomb squad after a shocking discovery in a passenger’s carry-on bag that surprised even the most experienced and longest-serving security officer at the airport.
The female passenger arrived at the TSA checkpoint at Terminal 4 at around 10 pm on December 15 with a carry-on bag packed with prohibited items that immediately set off alarm bells.
Amongst the haul of banned items discovered in the passenger’s bag were two replica firearms, three knives, and a canister of pepper spray. There were also 82 consumer-grade fireworks, which required the attendance of the LAPD bomb squad to dispose of.
“The sheer number of prohibited items discovered in a single carry-on bag is extremely concerning,” commented Jason Pantages, the TSA federal security director for LAX.
“We are in the midst of the holiday travel season when security checkpoints will be busy everywhere. Let this incident serve as a reminder to all travelers to double-check the contents of your bag prior to coming to the airport.”
The woman had been hoping to travel on a red-eye flight to Philadelphia but instead had to explain herself to the Los Angeles World Airport police department, who confiscated the prohibited items.
The TSA did not comment on whether the woman faces criminal prosecution for her reckless attempt to get so many prohibited items through the security checkpoint.
Surprisingly, the TSA doesn’t prohibit all pepper spray canisters but for it to be permitted through the security checkpoint, the canister must have a safety mechanism. It’s also worth noting that some airlines may have stricter rules than the TSA, so check with your airline before packing self defense sprays in your carry-on.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, however, all types of fireworks are banned from both carry-on and checked luggage, while knives and replica firearms are only permitted in checked luggage.
In the run-up to the busy Christmas holiday getaway, the TSA has been urging passengers to ‘know before you go’ by checking the TSA website to see whether the items they plan to pack are prohibited or not.
Prohibited items are the number one cause of delays at airport security checkpoints nationwide and liquids and knives are the most common items that are being intercepted during routine x-ray screening.
“When a traveler is ready to pack for a trip, TSA recommends starting with an empty bag, so the passenger knows with certainty what they have inside and they know that there is nothing prohibited in a side pouch, zippered pocket, or in the bottom of a bag,” the federal agency advises.
“That goes for backpacks, roller bags, handbags, messenger bags, shoulder bags, laptop bags, duffle bags and any other carry-on bag or luggage.”
