TSA Officers Discover Spent Smoke Grenade in Passenger's Carry-On Bag

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Watertown International Airport in upstate New York discovered a spent M18 smoke grenade concealed within an aerosol container in a passenger's carry-on bag.

The discovery was made during a routine security screening when TSA Officer Yessenia Alvarez noticed an unusual appearance on the X-ray monitor. She alerted Lead TSA Officer Melissa Graffam, who confirmed that the item, located in a side pocket of the bag, was a smoke grenade.

When questioned, the passenger stated he had forgotten the grenade was in his bag. Graffam found this explanation unusual given the limited number of items in the bag.

Lead TSA Officer Debra Alcock, acting as supervisor, contacted the Syracuse TSA Coordination Center and a TSA explosives expert, who determined the grenade was not live. Alcock described the incident as one of her most memorable finds during her time with the agency, praising the teamwork involved in resolving the situation.

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 TSA resources before packing to avoid such issues.

The incident serves as a reminder that even non-functioning explosive devices can pose risks and lead to law enforcement intervention. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has previously issued safety alerts regarding vintage grenades.