On July 18, 2026, a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent discovered stolen Civil War-era cannonballs in a passenger’s suitcase at Gulf Shores International Airport, Alabama. This discovery occurred during a routine X-ray security screening when the agent noticed an unusual, large, opaque item inside the suitcase, initially thinking it might be a medicine ball.
Lead TSA Officer Justin Dupree recounted his initial thoughts when he opened the luggage, finding five small cannonballs wrapped in paper towels. ‘My first thought was, I couldn’t see a fuse and need to get some help quick,’ Dupree stated. Although worried they might be live explosives, it turns out the cannonballs were inactive, lacking any explosive material or active components. According to Dupree, ‘I’ve seen inert grenades and training munitions but never an Indiana Jones-esque stolen artifact-type situation.’
The cannonballs, described as being about the size of grapefruits and weighing similar to a shot put ball, are artillery munitions and thus considered prohibited items on planes. Richard Cash, another TSA officer, noted, ‘It was my first time dealing with a potentially live explosive, and it’s actually only the second incident we’ve had since JKA opened in May 2025.’
Law enforcement later identified the cannonballs as stolen from Fort Morgan, based on paint markings by the fort staff. Fort Morgan is a historic site significant for its role in several military events, including the American Civil War. Investigations revealed that a juvenile had taken the cannonballs from a storage area in the fort and placed them in their grandmother’s checked baggage. The grandmother was unaware of the theft. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office reported the artifacts were returned to Fort Morgan, and the fort chose not to press charges.
This incident is part of a growing list of unusual finds by TSA this summer, with more than 2 million passengers being screened daily. Recent discoveries have included two live smoke grenades, an inert grenade, a pipe bomb look-alike, and a samurai sword hidden in a guitar case.