TSA Officers Discover Spent Smoke Grenade in Carry-On Bag at Upstate New York Airport

TSA officers at Watertown International Airport (ART) in upstate New York discovered a spent M18 smoke grenade concealed within an aerosol container in a passenger's carry-on bag. The find occurred during a routine security screening, according to a TSA release.

TSA Officer Yessenia Alvarez, operating the X-ray machine, noticed the unusual appearance of the aerosol container. "I didn’t like how the item appeared," Alvarez stated. "I called over Lead TSA Officer Melissa Graffam and told her I did not have a good feeling about it."

Graffam observed that the top of the can did not look right on the X-ray screen but appeared empty. Upon opening the bag's side pocket, she identified the item as a spent M18 smoke grenade. Graffam noted that such discoveries were uncommon at the smaller airport, where prohibited items typically include knives and oversized liquids.

When questioned, the passenger claimed to have forgotten the grenade was in his bag. Lead TSA Officer Debra Alcock, serving as acting supervisor, notified the Syracuse TSA Coordination Center and a TSA explosives expert, who confirmed the grenade was inert. The incident was considered one of Alcock's most memorable finds.

Brian Bushnell, TSA's federal security director for upstate New York airports, emphasized that spent, inert, or replica explosive items are prohibited and can cause significant disruptions. He advised travelers to check their bags before departing and to consult TSA resources like TSA.gov if unsure about an item's permissibility.

The ATF has previously issued public safety alerts regarding vintage grenades, noting that even spent devices can pose risks. In a separate incident at Tampa International Airport, TSA officers found a knife concealed inside a flashlight.