TSA officers at LAX discover surprising number of prohibited items in traveler’s carry-on

Contents of traveler's carry-on bag containing multiple prohibited items discovered by TSA officers at LAX on Sunday, December 15, 2024.

LOS ANGELES - Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are used to seeing a variety of usual and unusual items brought by travelers in carry-on luggage during routine X-ray screening in the security checkpoint. What happened Sunday, December 15, 2024, at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) surprised even the longest tenured and most experienced TSA officer.

Around 10 p.m. in Terminal 4 at LAX, a TSA officer flagged a bag for a bag check after seeing multiple prohibited items on the X-ray image. When the bag was opened with the passenger present, the TSA officer was shocked at its contents.

The carry-on bag contained a gamut of prohibited items: 82 consumer grade fireworks, three knives, two replica firearms and one canister of pepper spray. The bag belonged to a female passenger ticketed for travel to Philadelphia.

"The sheer number of prohibited items discovered in a single carry-on bag is extremely concerning," said LAX TSA Federal Security Director Jason Pantages. "This traveler should have followed TSA's tried and true advice - unpack your bag before you pack it to ensure you don't bring any prohibited items to the security checkpoint. We are in the midst of the holiday travel season when security checkpoints will be busy everywhere. Let this incident serve as a reminder to all travelers to double-check the contents of your bag prior to coming to the airport."

TSA notified the Los Angeles World Airport police department and LAWA officers responded to the security checkpoint and interviewed the passenger. The LAWA bomb squad also responded and confiscated the fireworks.

The traveling public is reminded that fireworks, which are a type of explosive, are never allowed on board an aircraft in carry-on or checked luggage. Knives and replica firearms should travel in checked baggage.

One 4 ounce container of pepper spray is permitted in checked baggage provided it is equipped with a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge. Self-defense sprays containing more than 2 percent by mass of tear gas are prohibited in checked baggage. Some airlines do not allow for transport of pepper spray, so travelers are encouraged to contact their individual airline.

Travelers are reminded that if they don't know how to travel with a specific item, they can download the MyTSA app and use the "What Can I Bring?" feature. Another option is to snap a picture of an item and send it to @AskTSA on Twitter or Facebook Messenger for real-time assistance. Travelers can also send a question by texting "Travel" to AskTSA (275-872).