TSA Officers Discover Concealed Knife in Flashlight at Tampa Airport

Listen to Fox News articles now! At Tampa International Airport, a passenger’s unusual attempt to pass airport security required the swift attention of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers. During the screening, TSA officers identified a concealed item that raised concern.

TSA Officer Andrew Carter noticed something unusual while examining a carry-on bag with an X-ray machine. Inside a baseball bat-shaped flashlight, he found a 4-inch, double-edged knife. This discovery was detailed in an employee story on the TSA’s website.

Carter explained, “The makeup and composition of the flashlight appeared unusual and outside what I typically expect, so I determined it required further examination.” His observation led to a closer inspection by Supervisory TSA Officer Michael Slaughter, who felt a mass beneath the lining of the bag.

Upon opening the lining, Slaughter found the knife integrated into the flashlight handle. He noted, “That is when it detached from the flashlight — revealing a 4-inch double-edged knife integrated into the handle.”

When questioned, the passenger initially claimed he was unaware the knife was in the bag. However, after the airport police arrived, he confessed to concealing the item beneath the suitcase lining to save space, as reported by TSA. Subsequently, the passenger was arrested and denied travel.

Keith Jeffries, vice president of K2 Security Screening Group and former federal security director for TSA at Los Angeles International Airport, commented on the incident. He stated, “It’s not uncommon to see artfully concealed blades inside of items.” Items like walking canes sometimes contain concealed blades, often without the knowledge of the purchaser.

According to Jeffries, the Tampa incident was concerning because the passenger admitted to intentional concealment, which constitutes artful concealment, raising serious security concerns.

Passengers who bring knives to checkpoints may have options to voluntarily surrender them and continue their travel, yet law enforcement responses vary depending on each case. Additionally, civil penalties might apply, and TSA PreCheck members risk losing their program access.

Travelers should ensure they are aware of the contents in their luggage and avoid testing airport security. Jeffries advises, “Pack your own bag, know what’s in your bag and do not try to test the system.” Testing security systems could result in consequences.

TSA emphasizes: “Do not test the security system. You will lose.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the TSA for further commentary. Kelly McGreal, a production assistant with the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital, contributed to this report.