In a discovery that “surprised even the longest tenured and most experienced TSA officer,” a cache of prohibited contraband was found in the carry-on baggage of a woman attempting to board a flight at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
TSA Discovers Harrowing Contraband at LAX
On Sunday, December 15, 2024 at around 10:00 pm in Terminal 4 (American Airlines), a woman traveling to Philadelphia (PHL) attempted to pass through security. TSA officers discovered several concerning items in her bag, including:
- 82 fireworks
- 3 knives
- 2 replica firearms
- 1 canister of pepper spray
In a press release describing the discovery, Jason Pantages, the LAX TSA Security Director, explained:
“The sheer number of prohibited items discovered in a single carry-on bag is extremely concerning. This traveler should have followed TSA’s tried and true advice – unpack your bag before you pack it to ensure you don’t bring any prohibited items to the security checkpoint. 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.”
My only comment is that I’d be flabbergasted if she “accidentally” left a massive box of fireworks, plus knives, toy guns, and pepper spray in her bag.
Airport police were notified and the woman was detained, though it is not clear if she was arrested or will face charges.
While replica firearms and long knives are never permitted in carry-on and fireworks are not permitted in either checked or carry-on baggage, pepper spray is permitted in checked baggage (unless banned by an airline), but must follow these guidelines:
- must be in a container that is four ounces or less
- must have a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge
- cannot contain more than 2% tear gas
CONCLUSION
I’ll spare the jokes about TSA here and say that even the most incompetent screeners are likely to discover a cache of contraband like this…do yourself a favor and always carefully check your carry-on bag before proceeding through an airport security checkpoint to avoid detention, arrest, and possible charges against you.
image: TSA
Give me a break. ‘Replica firearms?” – those are clearly keychains. lol
“Replica firearms, including firearm replicas that are toys, may be transported in checked baggage only,” according to TSA. These were in carry-on.
So what’s your point?
Something clearly doesn’t fit here. The TSA comment makes it sound like this was one big accident, which as you said defies logic.
I’m also curious what the women’s ethnicity is. I can’t help but think the TSA comment wouldn’t be so flippant if this was an Arab male say.
“Replica guns”? Those are keychains.
You just gave yourself away old sport.
You censor me again?! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries!
Also cut your boy’s hair he looks like a girl.
Don’t bring people’s kids in to it, bro. Cut it out
Suck my scrotum, bro.
Burn
You just can’t help yourself from acting like a little girl can you. And to attack a little kid, who has nothing to do with this article (or anything else for that matter) just shows us again your cowardice and lack of any type of morality.
And you wonder why you have no friends….
That part was constructive criticism, and you can eat my greasy stool.
Just another day in TSA at DFW. It’s amazing what the counts where of loaded and unloaded weapons, particularly firearms and hunting knives that are “forgotten” in purses, backpacks, carry-ons. As such, this doesn’t look that bad…
There’s far more contraband in here than the usual “mistake”… there’s a good chance she wanted to do harm.
She deserves a lot of time behind bars, along with a lifetime ban or two.
C’mon man! They were just Christmas presents for her relatives in Philly.
Funny, I initially read it that TSA found a disturbing discovery at a airport that was lax.
“…the longest tenured and most experienced TSA officer” – i.e. 7 months on the job.