TSA Stops Man Who Packed a Missile Launcher in His Checked Luggage

People like to try and sneak plenty of weird things past TSA, like wild animals or comfort foods, but under no circumstance should you attempt to bring military weapons through the airport. Just in case you needed reminding.

A man at the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport was stopped by TSA officials on Monday for having a missile launcher in his checked bag, USA Today reported.

Though it is likely common knowledge to most travelers, according to the TSA website, weapons including firearms and ammunition have strict rules about how they can be packed. While some civilian firearms can be allowed in checked luggage, military-grade weapons, especially explosives or devices that shoot explosives like missile launchers, are absolutely prohibited in both checked and carry-on luggage.

There’s your PSA for the day.

The man in question was a Jacksonville, Texas resident and active-duty military personnel, according to USA Today. He was immediately brought in for questioning when the device was spotted.

According to a statement by the TSA, the device was not live and was given to the state fire marshal for safe disposal. The man told the TSA that he was bringing it home from Kuwait “as a souvenir” and there was nothing nefarious or dangerous about the situation. Still, the TSA intercepted nearly 4,000 firearms in 2017 alone, and a Delta passenger managed to take a gun past the agency earlier in 2019.

We’re not sure how he should have gone about bringing this odd souvenir back with him, but in the luggage was never an option. TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein tweeted, “Perhaps he should have picked up a keychain instead!”

Who knows, maybe this will make the list for the agency’s strangest seizures and confiscations.

The TSA said in its statement that the man was allowed to catch his flight, without his souvenir, of course.