15 Weird Items TSA Agents Actually Confiscated at Airports

TSA agents see an endless stream of luggage every day, especially at major airports where thousands of travelers pass through security before sunrise, during lunch rushes, and late into the night. Most bags move through the scanner without much drama. A laptop comes out, a water bottle gets tossed, a pocketknife is surrendered, and everyone moves on.

Every so often, though, a bag contains something that makes the checkpoint feel less like routine travel and more like a scene from a strange airport comedy. Most passengers pack clothes, chargers, snacks, and souvenirs. Others show up with items that are confusing, unsafe, illegal, or just flat-out bizarre.

Seattle Travel looked into some of the strangest things TSA agents have confiscated from carry-ons and checked luggage over the years. Some of these items were dangerous. Some were prohibited for obvious reasons. Others were technically explainable, but still strange enough to make you wonder what the traveler was thinking when they packed them.

To build this list, Seattle Travel reviewed TSA press releases, the official TSA Blog, airport security reports, and travel roundups from outlets including USA Today and CNN Travel. Together, they reveal just how unpredictable a normal day at airport security can become.

From weird food and unusual souvenirs to weapons passengers somehow thought would make it through the scanner, these are some of the most unbelievable items travelers have tried to bring past TSA.

An Entire Chicken

Yes, someone tried to bring an entire cooked rotisserie chicken through TSA at highly-trafficked Newark Liberty International Airport. Agents flagged the meal as suspicious because of its odd shape, density, and aroma. While solid food is generally allowed, it’s one of the strangest examples of in-flight snacking. Whole chickens are often given special attention by the TSA, since they’ve been used to smuggle weapons onboard before.

A Chainsaw (With Gas)

Someone once thought it was a good idea to pack a chainsaw in their carry-on luggage, with a tank full of gas still inside. TSA actually allows chainsaws in checked bags, but this one was flagged for obvious reasons: it cannot contain fuel, nor can it be brought on a flight. Agents remarked that it’s one of the most dangerous tools ever casually brought to an airport.

Snakes on a Plane

At Miami International Airport, a local man was caught trying to smuggle live snakes in his pants, planning to board a flight with them in tow. However, TSA agents detected the strange, moving shadows on the passenger’s body scan. Reptile trafficking is illegal, and the snakes were safely removed; not only that, but the man’s ticket was revoked and he was questioned at length for the strange ordeal.

A Replica Cannonball

In a rare moment of foolishness, someone attempted to board a plane with a Civil War-era cannonball they bought at a museum gift shop. While this sounds innocuous enough, TSA couldn’t confirm whether it was fake or real and had to evacuate the area. It’s important to remember that even replicas of explosives or weapons aren’t allowed in carry-ons, no exceptions.

A Gas-Powered Leaf Blower

Just like the aforementioned chainsaw, this item was spotted at a regional airport, complete with a tank full of fuel. When confiscated, agents called it the loudest confiscation they’ve ever handled. It was not allowed to board the flight, but the passenger was; their yard work goals will just have to wait.

A Set of Ninja Throwing Stars

Ninja stars are prohibited in carry-ons, but many passengers don’t know this; one traveler had a full set tucked in their laptop sleeve. TSA spotted the sharp edges and pulled the bag for inspection, confiscating the weapon without remorse. Ninja stars are actually one of the most commonly confiscated weapons the TSA deals with on a weekly basis.

A Full Suit of Armor

Bound to only happen in Las Vegas, TSA agents found a traveler attempting to check a full medieval suit of armor. While technically legal to bring in either baggage scenario, it caused plenty of confusion when scanned. The sheer density of the metal and the large number of sharp edges required manual review. However, the passenger was cleared and the armor made it safely to its destination.

A Chain of Sausages Around a Knife

In one of the strangest carry-on combinations, a traveler was flagged for having a string of smoked sausages wrapped around a dangerous blade. TSA agents were initially confused by the signature on the X-ray, prompting a more thorough investigation. The weapon was naturally confiscated, but the sausages were allowed through, much to the passenger’s relief.

A Bag Full of Live Fish

At Denver International Airport, TSA agents discovered a carry-on filled with fish, still alive and swimming in plastic bags full of water. The traveler admitted that they were souvenirs from a pet expo and hadn’t thought that far ahead. While fish aren’t technically banned on flights, the volume of water prompted TSA to reject them, disappointing the passenger. TSA agents now advise using approved aquatic transport containers, should anyone need to fly with their fish anytime soon.

A Cremation Urn Filled With Sand

One passenger attempted to fly with a decorative urn labeled as ashes. However, upon further inspection, it was a container filled with only beach sand and coins. Despite the apparent lack of threat and need for respect, TSA still had to halt the line to test it for explosive residue. It ended up being just a quirky travel souvenir and was eventually cleared to fly.

A Fully Decorated Christmas Tree

Feeling the holiday spirit, a passenger tried to fly with a fully decorated tabletop Christmas tree in their carry-on. TSA allowed it through once the ornaments and base were completely and separately screened. Agents noted it as one of the most festive items they’d ever seen packed.

A Raw Turkey Stuffed With Cash

In one notorious airline security case, TSA agents at LAX discovered large amounts of cash hidden inside a raw turkey during the Thanksgiving holiday season. While not necessarily the oddest thing to be flying with, given the timing, the poultry’s dense, organic shape triggered additional screening that revealed the secret funds. While carrying cash isn’t illegal, hiding it in raw meat typically raises plenty of red flags, and TSA agents were prompted to call authorities to determine the source of the money.

Taxidermy Squirrel

A full-sized taxidermy squirrel once made it through security in someone’s carry-on. TSA did indeed allow it through after confirming it posed no threat. Agents joked that it was the quietest animal they’d ever cleared, bidding the squirrel goodbye and good riddance.

A Can of Bear Spray

Bear spray is banned from carry-ons because of its high-pressure container and dangerous chemicals; it’s considered a weapon that can be used against both bears and people. TSA agents confiscated one from a hiker who claimed he forgot about it in his backpack. TSA reminds all outdoor enthusiasts to check their gear and get rid of any aerosols from their carry-ons before flying.

A Crystal Ball

In the weird and wonderful world of Phoenix, AZ, a traveler brought a large crystal ball with them as a carry-on. While technically legal in every sense of the rules, the item’s heavy glass construction caused ample concern. Agents pulled the bag for further inspection due to its strange silhouette, but eventually cleared it, advising the traveler to pack up their magical objects more carefully in the future.