A routine security screening at Watertown International Airport, New York, took an unexpected turn when TSA officers found a spent smoke grenade in a passenger’s carry-on bag. This discovery was detailed in a release from the Transportation Security Administration dated September 24.
During the inspection, TSA Officer Yessenia Alvarez noticed something unusual about an aerosol container. Operating the X-ray machine at the time, Alvarez mentioned she “didn’t like how the item appeared.” She called over Lead TSA Officer Melissa Graffam to further inspect the item. Graffam observed that the can’s top looked strange but seemed empty. It was in the side pocket of the bag, leading Graffam to discover it was an M18 smoke grenade.
The officers secured the checkpoint following the discovery. Graffam called the incident unusual for the small airport, where prohibited items like knives and oversized liquids are more common.
“When asked why the smoke grenade was in the bag, the passenger claimed he had forgotten about it,”according to Graffam.
Lead TSA Officer Debra Alcock, acting as supervisor, informed the TSA Coordination Center in Syracuse. A TSA explosives expert confirmed the grenade was not live. This item was one of the most memorable Alcock has encountered with the agency, the release stated. She praised the team’s handling of the situation.
Brian Bushnell, TSA’s federal security director for upstate New York’s airports, highlighted the event as a reminder for travelers to check their bags before leaving home. TSA warns that items such as spent, inert, or replica explosives disrupt operations and can prompt law enforcement responses.
“Spent grenades still pose risks, despite being inert,”officials noted. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has alerted the public about vintage grenades.
Another item of concern recently occurred at Tampa International Airport. TSA Officer Andrew Carter found a 4-inch knife concealed in a baseball bat-shaped flashlight, following unusual findings on the X-ray machine. Keith Jeffries, a former TSA security director, stressed that attempts to bypass security would not go unnoticed.
Travelers are advised to consult TSA resources before traveling to avoid carrying prohibited items.