Gear that makes airport security suspicious
Security officers x-ray luggage at Chitose airport in Hokkaido, Japan. Photo: Miki Yoshihito / Flickr Creative Commons
In this age of increased security, sometimes airport officials will pounce on innocent items that look dangerous in an x-ray scanner. The list of restricted or banned items just gets longer and longer. Sometimes, it seems like things will reach the point where we won’t be able to carry on anything at all.
On a brighter note, Bootnall.com had an entertaining discussion thread titled, Gear that Freaks Out Airport X-ray Staff.
Some of the stories were hilarious, like goat cheese that was mistaken for plastic explosive. Another was an Indonesian wooden puppet head that looked like a grenade.
With all the complaints about pat-downs and full-body scanners, it’s rare to see anything funny in airport security. Have you had items examined or taken away? Please share your stories in the comments.
December 3rd, 2010 at 12:39 am
At Logan Airport, Boston, my daughter’s bag attracted the attention on the TSA and had to be searched. The offending item turned out to be a large necklace, you know one of those big bling items, that sported a large New York Yankees logo. The TSA agent smiled and suggested that she should not be carrying offensive items in her carry-on. It’s nice to know some of them retain a sense of humor.
December 3rd, 2010 at 12:44 am
this isn’t funny, but you can no longer travel with a backpacking stove (you need to mail it or buy/make one when you get to your destination). It use to be that only the fuel bottle had to be dry…
I’ve lost 2 swiss army knives that I’ve forgotten to take out of checked luggage.
December 9th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
A ninja star one time, when I’d forgotten to put it in my checked bag on the way out of (where else?) tokyo. Customs Guy did not sport an amused look.