TSA officers at Gulf Shores International Airport in Alabama discovered five Civil War-era cannonballs in a passenger's checked bag on July 18. The artifacts were found during a routine X-ray screening when lead TSA officer Justin Dupree noticed a large, opaque item that resembled a medicine ball.
"My first thought was, ‘I couldn’t see a fuse and need to get some help quick,’" Dupree stated, expressing concern that the object might be a live explosive. He alerted his supervisor, Richard Cash, who agreed that the items could pose a danger. Regional explosives specialists and the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office were notified.
The cannonballs, varying in size with the largest being "about the size of grapefruits," were wrapped in paper towels. Officials could not immediately determine if they were inert, classifying them as prohibited artillery munitions due to potential danger to the aircraft.
Authorities later determined the cannonballs had been stolen from Fort Morgan, a historic fort in Gasque, Alabama. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office reported that a juvenile had taken the artifacts from a storage area at the fort. The cannonballs were being transported in the juvenile's grandmother's checked bag. Fort Morgan personnel identified the items by their paint markings.
The grandmother stated she was unaware the cannonballs were stolen. The director of Fort Morgan chose not to press charges.
Tara Corse, TSA Federal Security Director for Alabama, commended officers Dupree and Cash for their diligence. She also reminded travelers to avoid bringing weapons, including replicas, to airports, as they can cause security alerts, delays, and safety concerns.