Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers made a surprising discovery at Alabama’s Gulf Shores International Airport earlier this month. Lead TSA Officer Justin Dupree was examining checked bags when he spotted the projectiles on his X-ray machine.
The items in question were five small cannonballs, wrapped in paper towels, with the largest being the size of a grapefruit and the smallest only about an inch wide. Law enforcement determined that the cannonballs had been stolen from nearby Fort Morgan, a museum operated by the Alabama Historical Commission.
A juvenile from out of state had taken the cannonballs, according to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. The historical items were returned to the fort, and the facility’s director declined to pursue prosecution. The historical society is conducting an active investigation into the incident.
TSA officials reminded travelers that even if items are inert and not active, they should avoid bringing weapons of any kind, including replicas, to the airport, as they can cause security alerts, flight delays, and safety concerns.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
