Gun, grenade, knives and bling turned over or left at Gulfport airport
GULFPORT -- A man in South Mississippi on a military operation forgot he had a grenade in his vest when he tossed the vest into his checked luggage at the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport.
A scan of his luggage set off security measures at the airport. Operations temporarily froze and an explosives expert with the Transportation Security Administration at the airport was called to remove the grenade and make sure everyone was safe, said Sari Koshet, TSA spokeswoman.
"You cannot have a grenade in your checked or your carry-on, even it it's a replica," she said.
Sweeping her hand over a display set up in the airport concourse that contained hammers and knives turned over by passengers, she said: "These could all be checked." They became VAP -- or voluntarily abandoned property -- after TSA scans detected them in luggage. Another grenade with the active material removed was among the 400 pounds of improper items passengers packed into their luggage at the Gulfport airport this year.
Between Thanksgiving and New Year's is the busiest travel time of the year, and the display of abandoned and lost-and-found items was set up at the Gulfport Airport to remind travelers that what they put in their luggage may not fly and could lead to fines and arrest.
Already this year, 400 pounds of VAP were turned over at Gulfport and 200 articles were left behind at the TSA checkpoint and "we still have several busy weeks to go."
- Shoes, keys, computers, eyeglasses and hearing aids have been left at Gulfport's TSA security check. "Some of these were returned but a lot of them were left behind," she said. Most jewelry doesn't have to be removed and she said passengers should put their personal items in their carry-on rather than in the provided bin to be scanned. "That's the safest way not to leave it behind." Passengers can call lost and found at 822-8307.
- Passengers can pack a gun in the luggage they check with the airline, but they must notify the airline they have a gun and lock it, unloaded, in a hard-sided box.
- A civil penalty of up to $11,000 and possible criminal penalties can be imposed for attempting to carry a gun on a plane. In some areas, possessing martial arts weapons carries a minimum fine of $250. Passengers should read up on the laws at their destination, she said.
- Passengers don't have to abandon their items. People can mail a disallowed item to themselves from the airport, take it back to their car, have someone come and get it, check their carry-on or try to get the item into a bag that was checked with the airline.
- "Unpack before you pack," she said, to make sure items from a previous trip aren't still in your luggage.
- Follow the 3-1-1 rule: Liquids, gels and aerosols 3.4 ounce or smaller can be carried on if they are placed in 1 clear, 1-quart plastic zip-top bag.
This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 7:57 PM with the headline "Gun, grenade, knives and bling turned over or left at Gulfport airport ."