Authorities acted quickly after TSA officers at LaGuardia Airport discovered an inert explosive in a traveler’s luggage. The museum gift will now be used for TSA training exercises after it was determined to be a safe training aid.
During routine luggage screening on Monday, TSA officers at New York’s LaGuardia Airport made the shocking but innocuous discovery of an inert bomb.
TSA explosives specialists and Port Authority officers promptly inspected the traveler’s grenade and determined it was not dangerous.
The traveler clarified that the grenade was hollowed out to be used as a training aid and was a gift from a museum. The U.S. Marine Corps claims that inert grenades are safety-related, non-functional copies.
The harmless grenade nonetheless prompted a rapid response in the interest of passenger safety. “We take every precaution, even with inert items, to maintain a secure environment,” a TSA spokesperson said.
The grenade was then repurposed by TSA explosives experts for use as a training tool for TSA officers. Tools like this are priceless in the effort to have agents identify potentially hazardous items during screenings.
The incident ended without incident, but TSA officials asked the travelers to properly scrutinize their luggage and not pack any materials that may cause concern regarding security.
This bizarre find shows the need for vigilance and proper screening in ensuring the safety of air travel for all people.
