WASHINGTON — Taking a trip? Be sure to leave your five-bladed flogger and dead sea horses at home, the Transportation Security Administration reminds travelers.
On Friday, the agency released its list of top 10 most unusual finds at checkpoints in 2016. The items, which range from strange to treacherous, were found at airports around the country. One menacing item, a replica suicide vest, was discovered at a checkpoint at Virginia’s Richmond International Airport.
Check out the gallery above to see images of the top 10 most unusual TSA finds this year and the airports in which they were found.
Bob Burns, lead social media specialist for the TSA, ranked the “most-unusual” list and says the items seem to get weirder every year.
“I’m continually surprised by some of the items that come through. I think the weirdness just gets better every year,” he said.
Of course, a fake corpse doesn’t come all too often, he said.
“The fake corpse has to be the weirdest thing we have found so far,” Burns said.
It was a movie prop for “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2” and someone associated with the film moved it through the Jackson Atlanta International Airport in a wheelchair.
“You can imagine it turned quite a few heads,” Burns said.
The prop conveniently fit through the X-ray machine, cleared the checkpoint and was able to accompany its owner on the flight … where it had a seat, Burns said.
“The corpse was perfectly fine, I think he even bought ticket for the corpse so it would sit next to him on the plane.”
While many of these items are prohibited on flights, travelers can transport ammunition and firearms, as long as they comply with TSA regulations.
Ammunition can be transported in checked baggage, but it is never permissible to pack it in a carry-on bag. Firearms can be transported in checked baggage, but they must first be declared to the airline.
Still have questions about if your golden hand grenade will make the cut?
Burns says TSA’s “Can I Bring” website and it’s “Ask TSA” Facebook messaging can help answer travelers’ last-minute questions about what they can and can’t bring on a flight.
Check out Burns’ video with about the most unusual finds:
