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Getting stopped by airport security is no laughing matter. It can make your hair stand on end, even if you know you aren't carrying anything illegal. What if someone planted something in your luggage when you weren't looking? We've seen enough stories and movies about people doing jail time abroad for this kind of thing.
I was once stopped in very dramatic fashion by Atlanta's airport security. It was just a few years after 9/11, so they weren't taking any chances. Me, being naive and young, reached forward to open my bag for them. Only to be met by a loud order to "step away right now!" As a thousand thoughts ran through my mind, we soon discovered that the highly suspicious items were a few big wedding magazines I'd bought during my time in the city. Needless to say, I was allowed to put my socks and shoes back on, my luggage was released and I eventually boarded the plane.
Airport security is there to keep us all safe. Searching "suspicious" bags is all part of the parcel. But sometimes it's a hit or miss. Someone once asked those working in the industry, "What’s the weirdest but still legal thing you found in someone’s bag?" and the answers ranged from bizarre to hilarious to downright embarrassing.
Bored Panda has put together a list of our favorites for you to scroll through while you plan your next dream trip. We also reveal the top items confiscated by the Transportation Security Administration last year. You'll find that between the images.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
We found a Japanese guy with a bottle of pure maple syrup taped to his inner thigh in my airport. Apparently it's hard to get in Japan and he knew it was over the size limit to carry on a flight. Pretty d**n funny IMO.
edit: Thinking back, there was another good story I just remembered. We found a pet Tarantula that a young man was trying to bring home with him while on break from college. It wasn't allowed on the flight so my friend/supervisor offered to take care of it while he was gone. He had many exotic pets over the years and knew how to take care of them. My supervisor took care of the complete stranger's tarantula and reunited it with the young man when he came back to town a few weeks later.
Ipetmykitteh 6 months ago
Awww. That’s super sweet. My spider lady would have loved a sleepover.
Airport security workers have had their hands full, quite literally, trying to juggle a bizarre list of items that passengers attempted to sneak onto planes in recent months. In January, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) released a video titled TSA's Top 10 Best Catches 2024.
It showcased some of the wildest prohibited items concealed in the luggage of travelers last year. And the questionable methods used by these passengers.
"You won’t believe what people brought to the airport…" TSA captioned the video. And they might be right. Some of the items were an obvious no-no while others were a bit more "WTF?" More details below...
RELATED:
#2
Obligatory "sorry for being late to this" and "not an airport worker".
Before getting my desk job, I used to be a police officer and once had to fly to do an investigation in a remote part of the country. Sent in the appropriate forms to the airline to advise them I'd be flying with my sidearm and equipment, all secured properly of course, and would have my badge and credentials with me to support that I was, in fact, a police officer travelling on-duty.
Low and behold, the day of my flight comes and I walk into the airport - pistol, ammo, expandable baton, handcuffs, badge and ID in my carry on as advised by the company - and I walk up to the service desk to let them know who I am and what I'm carrying. After a quick conversation with the supervisor they take me to a separate screening desk where they run all of my bags through the x-ray.
Security stops dead. "Sir, you can't carry this on the plane."
I'm surprised because I followed the regulations they'd given me for the pistol. Maybe I needed to ship the ammo separately and had just misread the form? "What do you mean?" I looked to the supervisor for help.
Security guy shakes his head. "No, the gun is good to go, but you can't have the baton on the plane."
WHAT!?
I can have a semi-automatic pistol and 25+ rounds of ammunition in my carry on, accessible to me in my airline seat, but I can't have a 21" metal stick weighing like 2 lbs!? I asked them in a much more professional way and they confirmed, yes, that is correct.
It was then that I realized security/ policing is a screwed up world and traded it for a desk and telling people what to do with their money.
One guy thought he'd fly (high) under the radar by hiding his bag of marijuana in a peanut butter jar. He figured if he left some of the peanut butter in it, and stuffed the weed in the middle, North Carolina airport security would be none the wiser. But boy was he wrong.
Bored Panda scooped a little deeper and found the original TSA Instagram post about the incident. "When we find peanut butter it doesn’t ever smell like this. That’s why when a passenger tried to pass skunk through Asheville Regional Airport it sparked some suspicion," the TSA captioned the post.
"For one, our OG’s know that peanut butter cannot fly unless it’s 3.4 oz or less. This goes for any liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, pastes, and lotion. A reminder to load up all your travel-size liquids in a single quart-size bag to prevent any unwanted delays," they continued.
#3
I was travelling for work once, I am a freelance technical director, and my son had put a large Jolly Roger sticker on my hard shell laptop case. He was going through his pirate phase. I was opening the case up to put the laptop in a tray for the scanner when the TSA screamed at me to stop. He activated some kind of Purple alert and in seconds I was swarmed by TSA agents and local LEOs.
After much explaining it was revealed the TSA guy saw the Jolly Roger skull and crossbones and thought I was carrying human remains.
Katzekratzer:
I read this as Jolly Rancher in both parts and was so, so confused!
It seems while the TSA doesn't take prohibited substances lightly, they do have a sense of humor. "Sorry maaaaaan, weed and certain cannabis infused products remain illegal under federal law, unless they contain .3% THC or less," reads the post. "To put it bluntly, it’s pra-bowl-ly not the best idea to travel with your kush, if you’re looking for a fast and seamless travel experience."
"Wrapping up, if you’re dabbling with the idea of bringing accessories, relax. We don’t want to leaf you with any questions," the TSA quipped. "So to clear up any con-zoot-ion, you’re able to travel with residue free pipes and bongs. They can be packed in your carry-on or checked bags."
#4
On an episode of Border Security Australia, Brisbanes main airport had to be evacuated and b**b techs called as a grenade had been spotted on the x-ray machine. B**b techs go in only to discover it's a belt with a metal grenade shaped buckle. Not the smartest thing to travel with.
zerbey:
Friend of ours went flying with his kids. His one kid was very small and was crying about wanting to take toys from home on their trip. They were so busy he just said whatever, throw what you need in your suitcase.
At the airport they get called to information because of an "issue" with one of their bags. The kid had packed his entire toy gun collection. It was an international flight. They got a good laugh out of it and let them continue, since it was the check in bag.
StrangeOne 6 months ago
That's just a stupid thing to wear to the airport. What did they think would happen?
#5
When me and my family went to Florida some police dogs were barking like hell at my dad and he was immediately taken into a room very quickly. Turns out dogs are good at sniffing out bananas as well as d***s.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 6 months ago
I don't know the detailed science behind it, but I know that dogs that are trained as sniffer dogs sometimes "false alert" because the chemicals/pheromones of certain things are chemically "similar" in smell to the smell of illicit substances XD (For example, pseudoephedrine can cause a detection dog to alert.)
Ace 6 months ago
Bananas can give off formaldehyde which I could imagine is similar enough chemically on the dog nose scale to some banned substances .
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Kabuki Kitsune 6 months ago
Florida has two different types of dogs present at their port of entry airports like Miami, and Jacksonville. One type of dog is trained to sniff out narcotics; while the other type of dog is trained to sniff out food, in particular fruits. This is because both diseases, and pests have been introduced which have laid waste to native crops. Every major port of entry has dogs like this. For those curious, the fruit and vegetables, and food seized, is ground up in a special grinder, bagged, and then taken to the airport incinerator where it is destroyed.
Huddo's sister 6 months ago
Australia is very strict about fruit and veg too. In fact, I can't travel from one part of my state to another (the Mallee) with fruit because of the risk of fruit flies. The Mallee has a lot of fruit crops and at present has no fruit flies, if any come in it could destroy the whole industry. There are bins along the border (far enough away from actual farms to cause harm) for you to deposit any in.
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Kristiina Männiste 6 months ago
There seems to be a banana import ban in USA for some reason. When we went over in february this year, we saw a lady get caught and her bananas confiscated. Boy were we happy that we packed homemade Estonian rye bread as our inflight snack instead of fruits. The dog did sniff at our bag in suspicion but clearly could not place the rye scent as any foodstuffs :D
SkyBlueandBlack 6 months ago
Yeah. Produce like fruits can carry things like parasites that might spread. Please don't try to unleash biological weapons here. California's citrus industry took a major hit because of a tiny bug from Asia. Rye, however, isn't as high risk. Even if it's carrying ergot, that's not going to destroy American crops.
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veryvenasaur 6 months ago
I once got yelled at in the airport when I was about 7 years old because my parents lost track of me for 20 seconds and I used that freedom to go cuddle the alert dogs.
Furbrain 6 months ago
I saw the harness on the dog as "Donut" pet. Then read the second sentence as "Turns out dogs are good at sniffing out bananas as well as donuts". And I thought yeah, they're probably good at sniffing for both. Took me a while to work it all out...
QueerAxolotls 5 months ago
The security dogs outside my local sporting arena like to sniff my dad's pants every time we go in, enough that we've established casual relationships with the handlers. We get hot dogs before games, and apparently my dad has a habit of getting it on his pants?
Khavrinen 6 months ago
So if you want to smuggle "illicit substances", the trick is to hide them inside bananas, then?
John Mosley 6 months ago
Let us all know how that worked out in 10-20 years.
Load More Replies...A passenger in Virginia certainly didn't put his best foot forward when he got caught trying to smuggle a utility knife in his shoe. The TSA revealed that not only did the man have the guts to try and go through pre-check at Williamsburg International with the weapon under the sole of his foot... he also claimed to have no idea it was there.
"When asked about the knife, the man claimed that he didn’t realize that the utility knife was in his shoe. Keep in mind, this was quite a bulky item that was folded in its case, which made it even bulkier," reads a TSA press release. Not sure about you, but I'm pretty sure I'd feel something like that in my shoe. Heck, even a tiny bit of gravel irritates me.
The TSA revealed that the man was permitted to catch his flight to Charlotte International Airport after surrendering his utility "tool" to authorities.
#6
Not an airport security worker, but the security agents in Berlin were concerned that some rocks I had in my backpack (why buy a souvenir when you can just take a rock?) were pieces of the Berlin Wall.
SiTheGreat:
They actually sell them at the gift shops. Pretty cheap too.
One Lego-enthusiast took his building and deconstruction skills to the next level when he stuffed a dismantled firearm, along with lego pieces, in a red combat boot. He stored the very prohibited items in a Marvel Avengers Lego set in a carry-on bag. It seems the guy totally forgot that airport security has X-ray vision.
The TSA said that the disassembled firearm parts were "artfully concealed" but were intercepted by officers at Newark Liberty International Airport. “This is an example of someone who was intentionally attempting to carry a [firearm] onto a flight,” said Thomas Carter, TSA’s Federal Security Director for New Jersey.
#7
Well when I was 6 I had my Dora the Explorer backpack on and I put one of those small sizes 8 oz water bottles in it. When my mom put the my bag up on the belt through X-ray it got flagged and they pulled my 6 year old self into a room (without my parents) and did a full search of me and then the woman yelled at me to never do it again. My mother wasn’t happy.
jacobr1020:
What did your parents do? I would have punched that woman if I was your dad.
Anon (OP):
Well being the child I was (had severe anxiety, very nervous about life, was afraid of a toilet flushing) I was absolutely panicked and upset that this barbaric tsa agent woman scolded me for something I didn’t even really understand as a small child. too be truthful I don’t think my parents did anything except make sure I was okay and calmed me down because I was hysterical that I got into “trouble”. I remember it. She sorta reminded me of the principal from Matilda. My parents had to explain to me there were certain things you can/can’t have on the airplanes. I do recall them being absolutely pissed but what really could they have done?
jacobr1020:
Did they say anything to her? I certainly would have.
Anon (OP):
Just talked to ma. She said she chewed out the woman and the supervising officer for taking a 6 year old unattended for a search in a large airport without her parents over a frickin 8 oz water bottle.
#8
Another slightly related story: When my grandparents died, they wanted to be cremated and then have their ashes scattered into the Pacific Ocean near where they had a house. But we lived in New York. so my mom wrapped them both up, in really cheap plastic cremation urns, and put them in her carry on. The airport scanned them, took us both aside into a separate room, swiped the boxes for explosives, and tried to take them. My mom had none of that, and after yelling "you cant confiscate my parents!", we got to keep them and continue on our flight.
tldr: dead grandparents fly for free.
“He kept changing his story, first telling us that it was a toy... and then claiming that it belonged to his brother. Regardless of his claims, what I can tell you is that it was a fully disassembled firearm that he could easily have assembled and used on a plane," continued Carter. "Not only does this individual face criminal charges from the police, but he also will face a stiff federal financial civil penalty that is likely to set him back several thousands of dollars.”
I still shudder to think why he felt he needed to take the weapon onto the plane...
#9
I'm not a security worker, but I have a story from the other side.
I'm asthmatic and had a peak flow meter in my carry on. This is a device you use to measure how much air you're exhaling. This one was a long cylinder with a tapered end. It had a metal rod in it that the gauge would slide along. When my bag went through x-ray, the guard called another guard over. Elbows poked at each other, and latex gloves went on.
When the guard pulled out the peak flow meter, he looked super confused. He clearly thought he was going to be pulling out a d***o. "Um, what is this?" he asked.
"It's a peak flow meter for my asthma," I explained. "I blow in it. Would you like a demonstration?"
"No, ma'aam. That won't be necessary." But then he cracked, leaned over and asked "Do you mind if I show my friend?"
We all got a kick out of it.
Zena 6 months ago (edited)
Eons ago (shortly after the Wright Brothers invented their airplane), I had an agent at a small airport ask to search my bag because they had seen something on the x-ray that they thought was a vibrator or other s*x toy, so they called several other guys over to see; they were hassling me (young woman traveling alone). It was my curling iron with a 2-inch barrel (they'd never seen one). They tried to be nice about it once I explained what it was, but really...if it had been a s*x toy, how is that their business? I look the old guy in the eye and quietly asked if he would have wanted his daughter or granddaughter treated that way in public.
Some people have zero regard not only for the safety of other passengers but for their own safety as well. The TSA says one person tried to slither through security with two live snakes. The man hid them in a small sunglasses bag. But it gets weirder. The passenger felt the best way to get the reptiles onto the plane without being stopped was to put them in his... pants! Yikes.
#10
My landlady in college was the stereotypical harmless looking little white haired grandma. She made some ceramic pistols so one of her grandkids could have them on the wall as part of a pirate-themed bedroom redesign. The world had changed since she had flown anywhere so she didn’t think twice about tucking them into a carry-on bag. Hilarity ensued.
DancingBear2020:
Imagine the embarrassment for the security guy to find out it's clay after opening it in front of everyone.
Meanwhile, over in China, authorities were dealing with a similar but even bigger problem. A passenger who had put no less than 104 live snakes in his pants, in a bid to smuggle them across the border. The animal trafficker placed the exotic snakes in six sealed bags. Authorities discovered a number of milk snakes, western hognose snakes, corn snakes, Texas rat snakes, and bullsnakes.
#11
Passenger here. I used to work for a tech firm that made very strange electronics for the government/military. I'd occasionally fly with a small weird box that is filled with electronics and slabs of strange materials. Ok to x-ray, but looks decidedly odd in an x-ray machine (like contains odd shaped pieces of metal that are totally opaque to x-rays).
Couldn't be checked because it's delicate. So I'd pull it out of carry-on and put it in a tray. They'd always want to check it and know what it was. It wasn't dangerous, but actually saying what it was in a security line could cause trouble.
I'd just pull out Id and paperwork, and point to the property tags on it and say "it's (military agency) property, it's harmless, it's very delicate, and costs about a years salary. You guys examine it however you want - Worst case I'll just get paid to make another one and double the profit."
Nobody ever wanted to touch it.
#12
Oh I can do you one better. May 2000, I'm flying to Florida to propose to my fiancee. My parents know this so they wrap up a gift and say "it's expensive, be careful with it". I threw it in my carry on and didn't think any more of it.
Going through security I'm tapped on the shoulder. They found something in my interesting backpack, what the hell is it. It looks like some kind of long knife. They pull it out and find my parent's gift. I explain it's a gift from my parents and I'm flying to the US to get engaged. They go "hold on a second" and run it through. Both the security guys start laughing and tell me "You'll love it, congratulations and please don't open it up on the plane". It was a cake server with a decorative handle.
Fast forward to the end of my flight, I'd told the person sitting next to me I was going to propose. I guess word got around the plane. I had so many handshakes and best wishes as I was leaving the plane, it was pretty awesome! 20 years later, still married.
Back in the States, a few other tools made it onto the TSA's Top Ten Best Catches list for trying to get weapons onto flights. But the number one spot went to a man who casually carted a loaded firearm through the airport in a baby pram. Or as the TSA put it, a "pew-pew in a stroller."
#13
Not a TSA agent, but last time I flew I was bringing chalk pastels home because I do a bit of art. They asked what they were, I said they were chalk pastels in a box that was clearly labeled “chalk pastels”
The box was opened upside down, spilling all of my chalk pastels on the table and coating the entire table in bright chalk dust, which does not wash off very easily.
#14
French security workers once thought I had a b**b but it turns out you just don’t get Terry’s chocolate oranges in France!
#15
Slightly unrelated, but it's a funny story.
I was flying back from Milan. the security worker stopped my dad's bag after the X-ray machine, and said there's some sort of liquid or gel in there. So he searches through the bag and eventually pulls out what he saw in the machine - a jar of Nutella. Now, he's probably a proud Italian and loves his Nutella, because I never seen a more devastated face in my life once he realized he needs to confiscate our Nutella. He started apologizing like crazy, "Oh no, I am so sorry..." and so on.
DachshundLuv:
I'd be devastated too, I've heard European Nutella is better than what we can get stateside and I freaking LOVE Nutella.
#16
Back in the 90’s, my friend who was a professional square dance caller and traveled all the time to call dances would get hassled all the time going through security. At that time square dance music was exclusively on vinyl 45’s. He had a special suitcase that held the nearly 200 records he traveled with. It weighed a ton when loaded but in the X-ray nothing shows up. Our local airport got to know him quickly, but he got real tired deplaning in new cities and having to explain again what it was.
#17
S*x toys are pretty common but my favorite are the college girls traveling with their parents. When they realize we need to search their bag you can see the panic take over and silently beg us to not let their parents see what they have.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 6 months ago
I don't go on vacations, but this makes me want to pack my collection of sparkly, glittery Bad Dragon brand "toys" the next time I do fly anywhere XD They're just silicone, so hopefully they'd just give the TSA agent a laugh.
#18
One time I was flying somewhere and I had made this really really awesome toasted turkey sandwich. I was really excited about it because I hadn't had a sandwich in probably a year (food sensitivities coupled with a rare brand of "safe" bread leads to sandwiches being few and far between.) I said on the way there that they'd better not flag my sandwich. When we went through TSA, guess what? They flagged. my damn. sandwich. I got it back, at least, but I'm never going to forget that they tried to take my sandwich.
They probably just thought it looked good and took it themselves.
#19
My grampa once tried to bring solar cells on a airplane. When TSA searched his bag after seeing something weird on the X ray and opened it up to see wires, the b**b squad was immediately called.
Being white and in his 70’s probably helped him in not getting arrested.
#20
From the other side. Early 90s.
My dorm had a pool table with a c***py cue ball. I bought one when I was home and had it in my carry on. A cue ball is apparently dense enough on the x-ray to alarm the staff.
Dusty's mom 6 months ago
Another potential missile. A cue ball can break an aircraft's window. It can bean an annoying brat on their noggin. Tempting, but firm NO.
#21
I had a bottled snake confiscated from me when arriving in NZ from Vietnam. I understood completely and didn't argue with them as it only cost me about $4. The biggest surprise was receiving it in the mail 2 weeks later with a letter justifying it by saying the snake wasn't endangered.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 6 months ago
OP says it was snake wine, an alcoholic beverage with a dead snake inside :( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_wine
#22
I once bought a pack of barbicans from UAE and i was travelling back to india. The pack was in my hand luggage. The security guys stopped me and they were arabs and didn't understand english that much. They got hold of it and i enquired why. They show actions of cans exploding and one of them was like cans - *splooosshh, bphrrrooom, booom* i will never forget it.
Kristy Marion 6 months ago
The aircraft is pressurised. Cans don’t explode in the air, otherwise watching the crew do a service would be very entertaining. However, due to liquid restrictions, it is best to put them in checked luggage.
#23
So my mother is into healthy lifestyles so imagine the look on the TSA’s faces when they had to leave a note saying they had to inspect her luggage further because she thought it was a great idea to pack PROTEIN POWDER in ziplock bags lol *taste tests* hm...good choice.
Myoviridae 6 months ago
I have a lot of dietary restrictions now, so when I fly home for the holidays I pack baggies of gluten-free flour, xanthan gum, oregano, and dried mushrooms. They are clearly labeled, but I am always waiting for the nice security people to bring me into a small, bare room for questioning.
#24
I bought a bottle of maple syrup at the duty free when I was flying back from Canada. I had to make my connection in DC but had to switch terminals and go back through security.
TSA took the sealed bottle out of the duty free bag and would not let me pass with it. He asked me what I wanted to do with it. I said "Well, I'm not going to f*****g drink it."
They threw it away :(.
#25
From the passenger side - the missus got me a Jerry-can bag thing - essentially a 20l jerry can, cut in half with a hinge and wheels added. I checked everywhere i could to make sure it was allowed to go on the plane.
The only problem was every time i went through security, the agent pulled it out and made me unpack it because the scanning machine couldn't resolve the contents clearly enough.
So, unpacked, and re-packed three times on the way there, and three times on the way back.
Without fail they all said it was a cool bag though.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 6 months ago
I bet it looks awesome, but definitely would not fly with it just because of this hassle XD
#26
I take 100+ flights a year on business, and have carried the same basic content in my same toiletry bag for 8+ years of doing this. Never had an issue -- until the time flying back from Cancun to Atlanta, the Mexican version of the TSA confiscated my tiny fingernail clippers. The reason (she says) is the one-inch file attached "could be a weapon". Tired and frustrated, I raised my voice to argue a little bit, and am immediately ringed by three armed guards -- one even pointing his rifle at me! I somehow managed to get up the gall to bend the file back and forth a few times until it snapped off, handed it to her, and put the rest of the clippers back into my bag, smiling. I still carry around that file-less clipper.
Peeka_Mimi 6 months ago
You raised your voice over fingernails clippers? They sell those everywhere you know. Pick your battles.
#27
Last week I went to Tokyo with my girlfriend. When I was going through security when I was heading back to Okinawa (I'm an American, but I'm working in Japan for the moment), I got stopped for having the handcuffs with me. The security guards didn't speak any English, so when a flight attendant came through, she had to ask me why I would want to bring handcuffs to Japan.
Needless to say, it was funny to see the reaction on the faces of the security guards when she translated "I bought them in Tokyo because I like it when my girlfriend restrains me during s*x.".
Michael Largey 6 months ago
A healthy romantic relationship always involves a bit of restraint.
#28
The guy in front of me when I was going to fly to Milwaukee had a tuba strapped to his back, and refused to take it off.
A tuba.
#29
Once when I was traveling out of Thailand, the boarding desk had told my family to deflate our basketball because it might burst due to high pressure. We stated we would gladly deflate the ball but we couldn't without tools. The man promptly grabbed the ball out of my hands and I started crying. (I was 7 at the time) He walked to the side, grabbed a pair of scissors from the desk and stabbed my basketball multiple times.
#30
My wife and I were leaving for our honeymoon. One of our friends thought it would be funny to put a large bottle of lube in my carryon. TSA guy checking bags for explosives, etc, pulls it out, tries not to smile, checks its for explosives and puts it back in our bag. Wife was mortified. I thought it was hilarious.
#31
Not a worker but probably my bag. My friends kids decided to pack me part of their rock collection and several small crafts. Apparently not wanted to have them broken they padded out the pouch they were in with maxi pads. Security was not impressed that I had no idea what was in my bag and couldn't explain it.
#32
When my parents were visiting me in Uganda, my dad accidentally brought a half-size machete through the security check. He had bought it before they went to the airport as a souvenir for my uncle. They found it in his carry on. They asked him what he was doing with it. When he told them, they put it back in the carry on and said make sure you check it when you get to Brussels. Have a good flight!
#33
I had a can of tobacco confiscated under the premises that it looked dangerous. I think the. TSA guy just didn't want to buy his own tin.
Kabuki Kitsune 6 months ago
Tobacco is limited by weight. You're not allowed to import beyond certain amounts in specific forms. I forget the exact values, but it's something like 180 cigarettes, or 12 ounces of loose tobacco. Anything above that requires paying a tax on. What makes things difficult, is certain types of tobacco (like smokeless) isn't always legal everywhere, so they can be seized and destroyed, as you can't legally have that in some areas.
#34
I traveled through the states a few years back. Bought one of those 4 inch long pieces of the golden gate bridges (old strands of the cables: [LINK] - I'm a bridge engineer, so it fits).
Anyway, given it's a solid lump of metal I knew that it'd get pinged in the X-ray, so I purposely packed it into my carry on so I could explain it.
Sure enough, lots of action when my bag goes through the machine. Questions of "what's in your bag". Looks of disbelief when I say "a piece of the golden gate bridge". They pull it out - SWIPE IT FOR EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL (seriously?) - before saying (once it had come back as a negative test), "this is heavy, you might attack someone with it. Go put it in your checked luggage".
FFS.
This_comes_to_mind 6 months ago
And, BTW everybody, if you have something like this take it out of the bag and put it in a tray. It will speed up things (you and other pax) and it is also a good sign to the agents that you're not trying to hide anything. Heck, I do that with a sandwich.
#35
Not a security guard, but once my jacket was flagged because they had seen a ton of loose pills in my pocket. I got paranoid that someone had put them there only to remember that I had been putting my tiny crafted paper rolls in my pocket. I explained I made them out of anxiety and showed them the slip of paper from which I made them. They laughed, unrolled the “pills” and kept some.
#36
My buddy had one of those switchblade combs. Let's just say TSA was not amused.
#37
Not airport security, but one time I was planning an 'exciting' visit to a lady friend and my carry on bag was full of rope, handcuffs, surgical scissors, blindfolds...yeah you get the idea.
It just all happened to be exactly the kind of bag you'd bring to kidnap someone.
Airport security told me I had to leave the scissors but let me bring everything else without even batting an eyelash.
#38
Not an airport worker, but something was found in my bag. I was going through security and they ended up running my bag through the x-ray 3 times before they finally asked what the lump of metal was that they were seeing. They showed me the image and I couldn't tell so they went to open my bag. Right when they started unzipping it I realized what it was and blurted out "Oh that's a Hammer!" which was immedatly met by, "Sir you cannot bring a hammer on the plane".
LakotaWolf (she/her) 6 months ago
OP said on Reddit, "I was traveling for work and it was just tossed into a bag with other work related items" XD
#39
I had peanut butter confiscated once. Apparently it's considered a gel or paste and it's policy not to allow those.
#40
Undeclared guns, knives/swords, a fire extinguisher, booze, bag of raw meat (no ice or anything, just meat), and a kitten a girl tried to smuggle in her pocket. I wanted to let the kitten through SO badly, but I sadly could't.
#41
Once when I was doing random searches at the international gate at SFO I found a chainsaw. Yep, someone managed to get their chainsaw past the xray and almost onto the plane. He was pretty surprised when I told him he couldn't take it on the plane. It was full of gas too, so I couldn't even do a gate check of his bag.
Uncle Panda 6 months ago (edited)
When the TSA was new, they didn't have a policy for wildland firefighters, who typically flew from home with all of their gear, including shovels, Pulaskis, and chainsaws. The firefighters said there's no reason for us to go without that stuff, so we'll wait for the phone call explaining things to the TSA. Stopping fire fighters on the way to an active fire is a pretty dumb idea in a litigious society. It tooks about 2 weeks to hammer out a new policy.
#42
Not an security worker, but when i was a child and me and my family were going on vacation, i had packed up some kind of magic box in my bag with a fake eye and stuff. It was kinda spread around in the bag unfortunately. Poor security worker had to pull it all out and my mother watched in shame.
#43
Jamaican security confiscated my belt buckle because it had two guns molded on to it. "No guns, models, or replicas allowed." Sorry that my belt buckle could have been used to scare or k**l someone.
#44
I had a snowglobe confiscated in Charlotte 2 years ago. Even though it was still in the duty-free bag from France, THAT I BROUGHT ON THE PLANE coming from Paris to Charlotte. Nope, *now* all the sudden it's dangerous.
Tropical Tarot 6 months ago
I had a friend who went to neuschwanstein I asked him to bring me back a souvenir of some sort. I was expecting a book of postcards or something similar. He decided to bring me a snow globe and this was 2010. He he said he got stopped by TSA equivalent in every single country. He was gone for about 2 weeks in Germany was his first stop.
#45
LOL so random, but as a passenger- I would keep a metal fork in my purse because the office kitchen didn't have utensils. So I would use it, wash it, and throw it back in my purse for next time (I have ADHD, I tend to forget stuff, so putting it in my purse helped me make sure I had it). I work for an airline, so I fly a lot, since it's free. I completely forgot it was in there, and flew probably 20 times before it finally got flagged. Strangely, the meat thermometer I threw in there when moving, cuz we forgot to pack it, and all boxes were taped up, never did.
#46
I'd like to give a shoutout to the TSA worker who had to unpack my entire wolf pelt to get at the toothpaste I packed that was too big. And to the airline attendant who told me I had to check my bag bc I was the last one on, offered to let me "get my computer out" and then watched me pull out my entire wolf pelt and run down the plane with it.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 6 months ago
You a-hole, that was my aunt Deelie! >:( How dare you disrespect her pelt like that! (joking)
#47
I was living overseas. Came home for the holidays and I was given an engraved bottle opener that looks like a large bullet. At the end of my trip, I put it in my checked luggage (it was in an enclosed wooden box, so it didn’t register).
Fly out of local airport. My laptop bag goes through the X-ray machine. Gets flagged for explosives. (Not uncommon as I frequently work with them). Bag gets swabbed, I’m on my way.
NY, transferring to international terminal, carry on bag goes through X-ray. No issues.
London. Transferring terminals. Carry on bag goes through X-ray. No issues.
Final destination. Entering the country, carry on bag has to go through X-ray. No issues. My checked luggage on the other hand gets flagged. Security is searching one case thoroughly. They ask me where the “gun parts” are. They show me a picture of the X-ray. Ask again about gun parts. I have no idea what they are talking about. As my case is being emptied, I small wooden box comes out. Everything clicks into place in my very tired brain. It’s examined. I explain it’s a bottle opener. I expect to get in confiscated, but show all of my ID’s in an effort to keep it. It’s decided I can.
3 days latter, I’m looking for a USB cable. Remember that carry on that tripped for explosives, and went through X-ray FOUR times? I stick my hand into the bag and think to myself “I don’t remember there being an interior pocket”. Unzip the pocket and proceed to find 15 live pistol rounds that I had placed in the bag during my visit in the US.
So much for security. The bottle opener? That’s the problem. The live Ammo? Nah... not so much. 😂.
#48
Like others, I was the traveler in this case:
In 2009, flew out of one airport in TX to go to NY for a weekend and only had a backpack (with a lot of pockets) since I don't check bags, so everything goes through the x-ray machine. No problems getting to NY. Upon my return trip, out of LaGuardia, I get pulled aside by two TSA agents about 3 seconds after my bag has been in the x-ray machine. At the time, I was working a a job in maintenance and hadn't considered that I failed to check all of the pockets of my backpack (which I also used for work) before packing my stuff. Which led to the TSA agents asking why I had a box of approximately 100 box-cutter blade replacements and various screwdrivers in my bag. I was immediately sweating bullets, thinking I was about to get thrown in jail, but then remembered that I had my work ID in my wallet which stated my position. I apologized profusely and explained that I really, truly had forgotten and that they could do whatever they needed with them, I could just replace them for my job. Both agents were actually pretty understanding, took the stuff to properly destroy it, made me do the extra pat-down, and only delayed me about 10min from time to entering the machine. I still felt like I had been put on some list, but it wasn't until I landed in TX later that I realized, TSA AGENTS ON MY FLIGHT OUT OF TX MISSED THEM ENTIRELY!
Figures I got lucky, but seriously, WTF? I thought that was the whole point of the agency. At least NY has their s**t together.
#49
I was able to get my lightsaber through security.. If they had said something I would have used the force.
The most embarrassing questionable item was when my grandpa died and we were flying home. My mom had this carved piece of art that maybe looked like a blunt weapon. They pulled it out and were asking about it. My son who was about 5 at the time looked at the security officer and asked him, "Do you want to know what this is?" The security guy said yes. My son whispered to him, "It is a whale p***s!!" then started giggling. They let us take it on the plane.
It was either ivory or whale p***s... to this day I'm not 100% sure.
Edit: oops, I should have mentioned I am not airport security.. :( sorry!
#50
A G1 Megatron. The kid was heartbroken. F**k toy gun laws, shouldn't things like that be at least grandfathered in?
#51
Once when I was around 10, my family and I were going to DisneyLand, so I thought I'd bring my pencil case with me so I could do homework on the plane. Turns out, there were scissors in there, so the guy just took them out and kept them. Granted he didn't take the whole case, but I was 10, with my family, and going to Disney Land.
I got new ones when I came back, but still hold a grudge against that one guy.
#52
Sorry to be slightly off topic, but my brother-in-law last year brought a 9mm bullet in his pocket through the airport, doesn't get confiscated. I unknowingly bring a 20oz tube of Aloe Vera through TSA and Heathrow security. Doesn't get confiscated. I have a little stuffed animal in my carry-on, "What Kind of sick f**k are you.".
LakotaWolf (she/her) 6 months ago
I'm 43 years old and if I went on vacation, you bet your heiny that Chace (pictured) would be going with me, and he'd be going in my carry-on so he wouldn't be at risk of being lost or misplaced XD I've had him since I was 5. If someone gave me beef about having a stuffed animal in my carry-on, I'd politely tell them, "He's probably older than you are!" XD chace-683f...f9e8df.jpg 
#53
A used, dirty fleshlight. No joke.
that_gay_snake 6 months ago
thats actually so nasty. please have discretion and check it at least (also wash it!!! ew)
#54
I don't work at an airport, but I got my barbecue sauce confiscated in St. Louis. I had bought it in Memphis at the airport and forgot I had it.
The black chick who was working for TSA got super sassy about needing to take it because it was over 3.5 ounces or whatnot. Sad, I asked if she had to. She insisted that she did and they were going to incinerate it. I suggested they have a post work grill out and cook some chicken or ribs. I immediately realized it sounded a tad racist, she did as well, and flipped out! "Excuseeeeee meeeeee, sir! We ain't using your sauce, its getting incinerated! Please step aside here for a random additional screening.".
Michael Largey 6 months ago (edited)
I wouldn't be surprised if the "random additional screening" included a full cavity search.
What do you think ?
turk 6 months ago
A few years ago, my gf (now wife) and I were coming back from a trip in Belgium. At that point we lived in different countries so we took different flights home. We had visited the Cantillon Brewery, legendary for their lambic (fruit) beers and I had purchased her a growler of their cherry beer to take home. Inexplicably, rather than put the beer in her checked bag, she put it in her carry-on. They confiscated it at security. And if she had taken it home and not drank it, it would be extremely valuable today, as lambic beer improves as it ages. Regardless, I bet a good time was had by airport security that day. It may be the one thing I can never forgive her for...
Kristiina Männiste 6 months ago
The best option is to hide the iffy stuff in pain sight. In 2023 some colleagues and me visited a medical fair, we did not book checked in baggage because we were there just to scope out future suppliers. The surgeon of the group unfortunately saw some pakistan surgical instrument sellers, could not resist and bought an assortment of various surgical instruments including a couple of very large surgical scissors, clamps, probes and whatnot. Me and the ophthalmologist (the surgeons brother) had a bet going if the surgeon would be just get kicked out or would they be arrested too :D But nope the surgeon just confidently placed all the instruments on the tray, but taking care that the sharper ones were at the bottom and the "more safe" ones at the top. Told the TSA agent that he was a doctor and got permitted on the plane with no questions asked.
Susan Labarthe 6 months ago
For context, I'm a "little old lady," 4'10", 82 yo, tough to make it to my gate lugging luggage, so use the airport assist ed wheelchair through TSA & to the gate. A year ago I was flying to a relative's funeral & packed about 12 albums worth of old black & white photos for my niece, sans album covers which had mildewed & I'd removed. X-ray found "blocks of metal." (Old photo print images are silver emulsion.) TSA guy pulled them out & examined every single photo. Took ages.
Bob Jones 6 months ago
Was flying home after a camping trip and packed in a big hurry, including a bag of leftover food. Included was a zip lock bag of mixed herbs that looked just like something else (I didn't even think of it when packing). The security people got very excited when they saw it but ended up disappointed.
Noltha 6 months ago
Recently, I was flying back home from Finland. I bought over half kg of licorice chocolate in a supermarket (much cheaper and more brands than at the airport) and had only cabin luggage. Guess whose backpack was sent for closer inspection. And not to a usual "suspected" line, but to a separate "very suspected" one ;)
B.Nelson 5 months ago
I got two good ones. I went to college out of state but would go home for a month during the summer unless I had work or classes. ONE: My little brothers heard I bought a PlayStation 3 and really wanted to play it. I also brought an external hard drive loaded with photos and videos that my parents wanted and hand a large laptop with it. I put it all in checked baggage. I got pulled out and searched because all of the hard drives, cables, and power sources looked "suspicious." TWO: I was traveling home and headed to college and my mom asked me to take a bunch of plushies and nic naks that I had left home back with me. I put it all in my checked bag. I get pulled out by randomly to have all my luggage checked. The TSA guy opens my checked luggage and calls for the lady that is checking my carryon. She looks up when the guy grabs a realistic rubber snake from my luggage and throws it at her, then laughs manically as she screams. I got to keep my snake.
Learner Panda 5 months ago
My husband needs a CPAP machine to breathe at night. We went through different check in lines and I got through quite quickly and stood waiting for him. Apparently they swabbed the machine and it gave a positive result for explosives. After some laughter and silly comments the machine was passed and we went on our way. This was some years ago and the staff are now more familiar with the machines.
geezeronthehill 6 months ago
I swore off flying after 9/11. I've never regretted that decision.
turk 6 months ago
A few years ago, my gf (now wife) and I were coming back from a trip in Belgium. At that point we lived in different countries so we took different flights home. We had visited the Cantillon Brewery, legendary for their lambic (fruit) beers and I had purchased her a growler of their cherry beer to take home. Inexplicably, rather than put the beer in her checked bag, she put it in her carry-on. They confiscated it at security. And if she had taken it home and not drank it, it would be extremely valuable today, as lambic beer improves as it ages. Regardless, I bet a good time was had by airport security that day. It may be the one thing I can never forgive her for...
Kristiina Männiste 6 months ago
The best option is to hide the iffy stuff in pain sight. In 2023 some colleagues and me visited a medical fair, we did not book checked in baggage because we were there just to scope out future suppliers. The surgeon of the group unfortunately saw some pakistan surgical instrument sellers, could not resist and bought an assortment of various surgical instruments including a couple of very large surgical scissors, clamps, probes and whatnot. Me and the ophthalmologist (the surgeons brother) had a bet going if the surgeon would be just get kicked out or would they be arrested too :D But nope the surgeon just confidently placed all the instruments on the tray, but taking care that the sharper ones were at the bottom and the "more safe" ones at the top. Told the TSA agent that he was a doctor and got permitted on the plane with no questions asked.
Susan Labarthe 6 months ago
For context, I'm a "little old lady," 4'10", 82 yo, tough to make it to my gate lugging luggage, so use the airport assist ed wheelchair through TSA & to the gate. A year ago I was flying to a relative's funeral & packed about 12 albums worth of old black & white photos for my niece, sans album covers which had mildewed & I'd removed. X-ray found "blocks of metal." (Old photo print images are silver emulsion.) TSA guy pulled them out & examined every single photo. Took ages.
Bob Jones 6 months ago
Was flying home after a camping trip and packed in a big hurry, including a bag of leftover food. Included was a zip lock bag of mixed herbs that looked just like something else (I didn't even think of it when packing). The security people got very excited when they saw it but ended up disappointed.
Noltha 6 months ago
Recently, I was flying back home from Finland. I bought over half kg of licorice chocolate in a supermarket (much cheaper and more brands than at the airport) and had only cabin luggage. Guess whose backpack was sent for closer inspection. And not to a usual "suspected" line, but to a separate "very suspected" one ;)
B.Nelson 5 months ago
I got two good ones. I went to college out of state but would go home for a month during the summer unless I had work or classes. ONE: My little brothers heard I bought a PlayStation 3 and really wanted to play it. I also brought an external hard drive loaded with photos and videos that my parents wanted and hand a large laptop with it. I put it all in checked baggage. I got pulled out and searched because all of the hard drives, cables, and power sources looked "suspicious." TWO: I was traveling home and headed to college and my mom asked me to take a bunch of plushies and nic naks that I had left home back with me. I put it all in my checked bag. I get pulled out by randomly to have all my luggage checked. The TSA guy opens my checked luggage and calls for the lady that is checking my carryon. She looks up when the guy grabs a realistic rubber snake from my luggage and throws it at her, then laughs manically as she screams. I got to keep my snake.
Learner Panda 5 months ago
My husband needs a CPAP machine to breathe at night. We went through different check in lines and I got through quite quickly and stood waiting for him. Apparently they swabbed the machine and it gave a positive result for explosives. After some laughter and silly comments the machine was passed and we went on our way. This was some years ago and the staff are now more familiar with the machines.
geezeronthehill 6 months ago
I swore off flying after 9/11. I've never regretted that decision.
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