TSA Discovers Smoke Grenade in New York Airport

A routine security check at Watertown International Airport in New York turned surprising when TSA officers uncovered a spent smoke grenade hidden within an aerosol container in a passenger’s carry-on. The discovery occurred recently according to a release from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) dated September 24.

TSA Officer Yessenia Alvarez, who operated the X-ray machine during the inspection, expressed concern about the appearance of the aerosol container. She recalled, “I didn’t like how the item appeared.” Lead TSA Officer Melissa Graffam was called to assist, and they eventually identified the object as a spent M18 smoke grenade.

Graffam explained that the aerosol’s image appeared unusual because the top seemed empty. Upon inspection, they confirmed it was indeed an M18 smoke grenade. The discovery was remarkable for Watertown International Airport, where officers typically encounter other prohibited items such as weapons and oversized liquids.

Upon questioning, the passenger claimed to have forgotten about the smoke grenade in his bag, which only contained a few other items. TSA Officer Debra Alcock, acting as a supervisor, notified the Syracuse TSA Coordination Center and a TSA explosives expert verified the grenade as inactive.

Alcock highlighted the experience as particularly memorable and appreciated the effective teamwork in securing the checkpoint. Brian Bushnell, TSA’s federal security director for upstate New York, emphasized the importance of travelers thoroughly checking their bags before traveling.

Bushnell cautioned that spent, inert, or replica explosives are prohibited through checkpoints as they can cause significant disruptions and trigger law enforcement responses. Travelers should consult TSA’s resources, such as TSA.gov, to confirm item legality before packing.

The TSA report also mentioned a separate incident at Tampa International Airport, where TSA Officer Andrew Carter discovered a knife inside a baseball bat-shaped flashlight while screening a carry-on bag. This was another example of potential dangers reaching security checkpoints and the importance of TSA diligence.