TSA Finds Stolen Civil War-Era Cannonballs in Alabama Airport

A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent uncovered a set of stolen Civil War-era cannonballs in a passenger’s suitcase during a routine security screening in Alabama.

The discovery occurred at Gulf Shores International Airport on July 18. A TSA agent identified an unusual large, opaque item inside a suitcase during an X-ray screening. Initially, the agent suspected it was a medicine ball. Upon opening the luggage, the agent found five small cannonballs wrapped in paper towels and informed a supervisor.

My first thought was, ‘I couldn’t see a fuse and need to get some help quick,’ Lead TSA Officer Justin Dupree stated. I couldn’t see the entire item but was scared I might have been holding a live explosive.

The TSA confirmed that the cannonballs were inactive and lacked any explosive material or components. Nevertheless, cannonballs are classified as prohibited items on aircraft.

The relics were identified as stolen from Fort Morgan, a historic site involved in key military conflicts like the Civil War. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office reported that a juvenile had taken the cannonballs from a storage area at the fort and placed them in their grandmother’s checked luggage. Unaware of the theft, the grandmother cooperated with authorities.

The sheriff’s office mentioned that Fort Morgan chose not to press charges, and the artifacts were returned to the fort.

TSA has been screening over 2 million passengers daily this summer and frequently encounters unusual items. These have included live smoke grenades, an inert grenade, a pipe bomb look-alike, and a samurai sword concealed in a guitar case.