According to officials, security at Los Angeles International Airport prevented a passenger from bringing “a surprising number of prohibited items” on a flight headed to Philadelphia, including numerous firearms and dozens of pyrotechnics.
A woman was identified by Transportation Security Administration personnel for passing her carry-on luggage through the X-ray machine at Terminal 4 at approximately 10 p.m. on December 15, according to the agency.
The TSA stated in a statement Friday that the officer “was shocked” to discover “82 consumer grade fireworks, three knives, two replica firearms, and one canister of pepper spray” in the luggage.
Whether the tourist was detained or denied access to her trip to Philadelphia was not immediately apparent.
Jason Pantages, the TSA’s federal security director at the airport, said in a statement that the sheer quantity of banned items found in a single carry-on bag is quite alarming.
In order to avoid bringing any forbidden items to the security checkpoint, the traveler ought to have complied with TSA’s well-established recommendation to unpack their suitcase before packing it,” he stated.
As millions of vacationers jam airport security lines at already crowded airports, Pantages warned travelers to exercise extra caution this week.
“We are in the midst of the holiday travel season when security checkpoints will be busy everywhere,” Pantages stated. “This incident should serve as a lesson to all travelers to check their bags before arriving at the airport.
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