If there is something that the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us of, it is how much we miss travelling. There is nothing quite like deciding on a destination to venture to — whether it be a new country to discover, or the familiarity of returning to a place you love — buying that ticket, packing your bags, and heading off to the airport to embark on an adventure! Most airlines allow passengers to only bring one piece of luggage weighing 20 kilograms, in addition to their much smaller carry-on baggage, so it can be tricky deciding which items are essential enough to take that you won’t survive without them on your trip (or if you can really fit in that extra pair of shoes that you probably won’t get round to wearing anyway!)
Yet, the fairly strict baggage allowance — not to mention prohibitions from other countries about what you can bring in — has not stopped people from trying to sneak in some unusual items between their undergarments… These are some of the things that airport officials, known as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), were probably not expecting to find hidden in passengers’ suitcases when they went through the X-ray scanner.
A Rather Dangerous Drink
Traditionally, liquids over a certain amount are not permitted to be taken on a plane. There are ways around this, however, like packing the fluid in one’s suitcase. But this bottle of elixir caught attention for a different reason.
Airport officials at Ontario International Airport were taken aback when they discovered both a scorpion and a cobra amongst the liquid in the bottle! Amazingly, the item made it through security as it didn’t break any laws.
Lucille from The Walking Dead
Die-hard fans of TV shows and movies often own paraphernalia belonging to some of the characters. It doesn’t mean, though, that said items should be taken on a plane, as this passenger found out.
AMC’s series, The Walking Dead, follows a group of people under constant threat of zombies, so they need weapons like this baseball bat wrapped with rubber barbed wire known as “Lucille”. This passenger, not so much, and so it was confiscated.
A Special Birthday Cake
Birthdays are typically a time where people tend to pull out all the stops. And, of course, there needs to be cake! One woman had a special birthday cake made to mark the occasion, but she wasn’t sure if it would by permitted on the plane.
That’s because the baked good included several bottles of cognac. TSA gave the go-ahead to the passenger — as long as she didn’t indulge mid-flight.
A Live Lobster
Lobsters spend most of their time in the ocean, but every now and again, there are some that swap the deep blue below for the one in the sky.
On occasion, passengers have tried to pack crustaceans in their baggage in an attempt to bring fresh seafood home from their seaside vacation. Believe it or not, this is actually allowed under TSA rules! Live lobsters are permitted in packed luggage and carry-ons as long as they are in a cage.
Gardening Tools
Signs throughout the airport reminds passengers that any sharp or dangerous items will not be allowed on the flight. Considering that most garden tools fit this description in some way, you can bet that TSA officials will have something to say.
Still, if one really must pack a shovel or garden fork, it is best to do so within a suitcase that can be checked in and not accessed while in the air.
Lock, Stock, and Two Hidden Parrots
Most airlines are willing to make exceptions when it comes to flying with pets and other animals, as long as permission has been received beforehand and proper arrangements have been made to contain the creatures while on the plane.
This woman, however, clearly did not. While performing a routine pat-down, security officials discovered two poor parrots in socks, taped to her body! She was subsequently arrested on suspicion of smuggling endangered species.
A Literal Pair of Nun-Chuks
Weapons are a big no-no when it comes to items one can pack in their luggage. Yet, there always remains exceptions to the rule… just like these “nun-chuks”, for example.
Nunchuks are weapons used in martial arts as their structure of two pieces of wood joined by a metal chain make them particularly dangerous. TSA officials must have shared a giggle, though, when they saw these little holy ladies. You’ve gotta appreciate the pun!
Bringing Back a Pizza the Holiday
Have you ever eaten something on vacation that was so delicious you wish you could take it home? If it’s pizza, you’re in luck! Under TSA guidelines, pizza can be checked in or taken in hand luggage. There is a catch, however.
All pizza boxes must go through the X-ray scanner to ensure that no other unsavoury items are being snuck onto the plane with — or instead of — the pie.
Spiked Gladiator Mask
Remember the 2000 film Gladiator, with Russell Crowe? It told the story of a Roman general forced into slavery who became a fierce gladiator. Maximus’s fighting attire included a weapon to protect him in the ring.
This passenger owned a replica of the helmet which he tried to fly with, but the spikes on the headpiece raised red flags. In the end, it meant that airport security officials added it to the confiscation pile.
A Selection of Swords
It seems logical that swords would be on the list of items that a passenger is not allowed with them on an airplane as it is very much considered a weapon. But like many things on this list, someone tried to get it past TSA anyway.
Security officials were having none of it, though, and obviously confiscated the large medieval knives when they saw them on the X-ray machine while scanning his carry-on bag.
Even Fake Weapons Aren’t Welcome
Attention all passengers: fake or not, your weapons should not be in your carry-on. Even if the item is not authentic enough to be used in the way it was designed, it can still be dangerous.
That was the thinking behind TSA officials not letting a passenger take his (fake) medieval club, known as a morning star, on board. Although the ball was actually made of rubber, it could still be used to whack somebody on the head.
A Little Long in the Tooth
Some things are not going to fit in your luggage, no matter how hard you try Case in point: these poles used for pole-vaulting. With sporting competitions held around the world, there is a chance you may come across someone trying to transport these babies next time you’re at the airport.
The good news for athletes and coaches is that items like these can be checked in as special luggage if the airline is notified beforehand.
Hooray for Horns
Ram and cow horns have significance in certain cultures — from Jews who blow it leading up to their new year, to the Vikings who drank out of the vessels. But whatever the affiliation, owners will be pleased to know that they can be packed in a carry-on bag.
Despite one side of the horn being somewhat sharp, TSA has deemed them safe enough to take on board and they know best!
All Up in Your Grills
Grills first became popular in the ‘80s when hip hop artists began sporting the jewellery that covers your teeth. The trend has become even more fashionable in 2021, with some grills now studded with diamonds and gold.
Most of them, though, include metal which is likely to set off the security detectors when passing through. In order to avoid the embarrassment, rather place the grill in your carry-on than in your mouth.
See You Later, Alligator
We are not sure how common alligator heads are as a luggage item, but apparently they are possible to take with you aboard a flight if the desire arises. Just ask this passenger who managed to do so.
The head may have contained tiny teeth, but TSA workers saw no threat by having the alligator body part on the plane, and deemed it safe enough to pas security include in one’s carry-on luggage.
Bees on a Plane
Samuel L. Jackson made an entire movie about snakes being let loose on an airplane. Although he handled the ordeal like a boss, would he have managed as well had it been bees?!
That scenario almost came to life when a passenger tried to travel with her grandmother’s bees in a can. It’s not a request that’s received every day, so TSA officials chose to let the airline decide. We hope Jackson was on board just in case…
Bombs Away
Certain words cannot be said in an airport or on an airplane, and even joking about blowing up either of these can get a person into serious trouble. There have been documented cases where passengers have been arrested and made to pay hefty fines.
So, naturally, it isn’t wise to pack anything that resembles a bomb, like this. Although it looks like a grenade, this is, in fact, just a truck hitch.
Spikes Are Out
Seems the creature from the Blue Lagoon fancied taking a trip in the sky. Or, at least, someone with a scary mask did. The long spikes on this helmet look sharp enough to poke out someone’s eye which already makes it unlikely to pass security. On closer inspection, it is noted that they are actually bullets!
The gas mask in question looks straight out of the Mad Max films, but it went straight into the confiscation pile.
Baby Shark, Doo Doo
It is not advised for passengers to take living (or dead) animals with them on a plane. It is even less advised to do so when said creatures are housed in a jar of water.
A passenger at Syracuse Hancock International Airport was barred from taking this bottle, that appeared to contain a baby shark, on board with them. But the decision was predominately due to the fact that liquid over 3.4 ounces cannot be in a carry-on.
Don’t Get Caught in the Headlights
Because knowing what can and cannot be taken on a flight it is not always straightforward, the TSA allows passengers to submit queries about their items via social media. This was one of them.
The @AskTSA Twitter account received a question, asking whether this headlight could be taken on board. The answer was yes — but not in a carry-on.
No Bears in This Cabin
There are parts of the world in which people need to watch out for bears. On an airplane, no so much. Still, this passenger packed bear spray into their hand luggage.
While the chance of encountering a bear in this type of cabin is low, the fact that the spray contains over 3.4 ounces of liquid makes it a no-go in a carry-on.
A Bug’s Life
When one spends years as a collector of exotic items, it makes sense that they would be hesitant to part from something as precious as their collection on a flight.
Luckily for this insect enthusiast, TSA had no problem when it came to this delicate bug collection. The passenger was allowed to bring it with them as a carry-on.
A Pair of Penguins
Penguins may not be able to fly — until you get them on a plane, that is! These two creatures, named Penny and Pete, belong to San Antonio SeaWorld and were travelling to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg for a Christmas event.
Like all passengers, they passed through security gracefully and boarded the flight after everything checked out!
When in Doubt, Ask
Dragon Balls are fairly powerful objects! In real life, though, these balls do not pose much of a threat to fellow passengers, and so they were fine to transport on board in a carry-on.
The passenger taking them did the right thing though, by checking beforehand. They contacted the TSA Twitter account at @AskTSA to query whether these orbs would be allowed.
No Reconaissance on Renaissance
Renaissance affairs have become increasingly popular over the years, and people often hop on planes to reach the events. In keeping with the theme, participants come dressed up, meaning that costumes and props are likely to be in their luggage.
Should you decide to pack something like this axe or even a sword, it is best to check it in.
Rain on Your Parade
Umbrellas can be considered a valuable item (just ask Mary Poppins!) but they are not necessarily needed during a flight, no matter how much turbulence there is.
While there is normally no problem taking an umbrella on board in a carry-on, this particular one was confiscated by TSA as the handle resembled brass knuckles which is rather dangerous.
Bear With
Airport officials are pretty strict when it comes to the size of items that passengers are allowed to bring with them. Whether the luggage is checked in or carried on board, the bag must adhere to specific dimensions.
This poor teddy bear didn’t quite make the cut, and so was left at the airport to fend for himself.
Can’t Be Too Careful
When working airport security, officials cannot be too careful. Letting even one bad item through could result in the lives of the passengers and crew being in danger, so it is no surprise that TSA employees take their duty as seriously as they do.
That means that even harmless items, like this notebook, will be thoroughly examined if it is thought to be suspicious. At the end of the day, it’s for the best.
No Fireworks at This Party
Bad news for anyone planning a big celebration that includes fireworks — these babies are not permitted on board of a flight.
Dangerous at the best of times, if a firework were to somehow ignite mid-flight, the results would be disastrous. As a result, TSA has banned the contraptions from being stored in a carry-on or even checked in.
Cut It Out
Airport security rules clearly state that no sharp objects are permitted in a carry-on. That means that if happen to have a pair of eyebrow snippers or other scissors that you don’t want confiscated, check them in.
We’re not quite sure how this passenger thought that a giant pair of scissors would make it through security, but TSA obviously took it away.
The Book that Went Boom
Not all items are as they appear at first. It is not uncommon for certain passengers to try sneak items onto the flight in an unassuming way, especially when they might be dangerous or harmful to other people on board.
That is why all bags must pass through an X-ray scanner — in order to detect explosive devices hidden in books like this one.