A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent discovered a set of stolen Civil War-era cannonballs in a passenger's suitcase during a routine security screening at Gulf Shores International Airport on July 18, law enforcement officials reported.
The agent noticed a large, opaque item on the X-ray screen and, upon opening the luggage, found five small cannonballs wrapped in paper towels. The agent notified a supervisor, noting the unique nature of the find.
The cannonballs, described as inactive and containing no explosive material, are considered prohibited items on aircraft. They measured up to grapefruit size and weighed approximately as much as a shot put ball.
Authorities determined the cannonballs were stolen from Fort Morgan, a historic site that played a role in conflicts including the Civil War, based on paint markings applied by fort staff. The artifacts date to the American Civil War.
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office stated that a juvenile had taken the cannonballs from a storage area at the fort and placed them in their grandmother's checked bag. The grandmother reportedly was unaware the items were stolen. Fort Morgan representatives declined to press charges, and the cannonballs were returned to the fort.