Air travel, while convenient, is a risky business. On one hand, travelers are at the mercy of pilots competency, weather threats, and hardware issues and on the other hand, there are mentally unsound fellow travelers and terrorists to worry about. While other bodies worked to improved on the safety aspect of the former, the responsibility of addressing the latter rest squarely on the shoulders of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the various airports. I know many travelers view TSA as more of a hassle than good. But hey, if the hassle can bump up the safety aspect with regards to dangerous materials onboard, we are fine by the hassle.
Pardon me for my paranoia cos’ perhaps, I have watched one too many air crash investigations. Like regular police, TSA also serves as deterrent to potential troublemakers and if, god forbids, bad guys still insist on trying, at least, you know that anything that can potentially bring down an aircraft will be found and stopped. But still, it begs the question: is airport checks really that effective? I don’t know. However, a look at what airport security have found thus far may answer that curious question. Admittedly, what they have found may not bring about nasty consequences under normal circumstances, but do you rather have those onboard and thus putting you and your fellow passengers at risk if the circumstances turn sour? Like a wise man may say, “never say never.”
Anywho, you’d be surprised what TSA have dug up over the years and it ranges from loaded firearms to inert ordinance to a camera rig that has handle and trigger mechanism that looks like an actual firearm. Granted, the latter is completely harmless, but imagine if a sick-minded person with the intention to cause harm in the air, masquerade one of this as a “harmless” camera rig. Seriously, I don’t want to be on the same flight as this person and it is safe to say, no one wants to. Oh yes, there were some mortar tubes, bazooka, and Batarangs too. Yeah. That Batarang. You know. The thing Batman uses and no, Bruce Wayne wasn’t onboard and so…. Anyways, without further delay, here are some of the stuff air travelers have tried to bring onboard to an aircraft on their carry-on.
Note: Not everything airport security found are prohibited on aircraft. Some items just need special permission, or required to be checked in.
Oversized teddy is no go on the cabin. Cargo area is fine though:
Yup. Power tools too. It’s either checked or the highway.
Apparently, post-apocalyptic mask is allowed, but not one decorated with bullets, whether or not real or fake, is a no-go.
And no. Firearm on carry on is a big no-no – even dressing up in Hello Kitty design won’t help.
No to stink bomb too. Obviously.
Fake gun belt buckle. The answer is obvious ‘no’.
Someone even tried to bring a 30mm A-10 Warthog round on a carry-on. Although it was inert, there’s really way of telling if it is so and the result was, security descending on the security check area and holding up the rest of the travelers. Nope. I won’t stand for that either.
It won’t help even if the inert grenade was coated in gold, like in this case:
No to stun cane either.
Obviously, an anti-tank landline, inert or otherwise, is a big no-no.
Mouse high on cocaine? Illicit drugs are obviously illegal. Don’t need a genius to tell you that.
Knives and shuriken, or Japanese ninja throwing stars, turns out to be popular prohibited items, which is no surprise, really.
And grenades too. Who would have guessed?
A pen gun. Was James Bond on a flight?
Yup. Even Claymore anti-personnel mine. Inert or not, this thing is not going anywhere.
Damn it. Is this why I have to take out my shoes???
LEGO set never look this awesome.
Batman flies too? Whatever happen to your Batcraft, Bat? Also, as it turns out, either Batman traveled more than once, or there were more than one Batman flying around.
Someone tried to disguise his/her weapon as a toy – sealed inside an actual toy gun package – complete with a dart sticking out of the barrel.
This one shouldn’t come as surprised, but the following two stood out because they were loaded (and so were many others). But nice guns there.
And bigger guns too…
Yes. Even Eels too.
Deliberately concealing prohibited items, such as this knife here, is a sign of you wanting trouble.
No shit. Someone actually try to check this in and yes. That was a 84mm antitank weapon right there, albeit expended.
This alarm clock is surely going to cause an alarm…
Speaking of alarm… these suicide vests are definitely going to trigger a major alarm. An inert/fake suicide vest? Going onboard? Are freaking kidding me???
But pole-vault poles are definitely cool to fly – they have to be checked in, of course.
You can checked out TSA Blog or Instagram page for more #TSAGoodCatch.
Feature image by Mikeshouts.
