Transportation Security Administration officers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport stopped a passenger carrying an unusual bladed weapon that officers compared to Wolverine-style claws and the blades from Freddy Krueger’s glove, according to a TSA report published Oct. 27.
The item turned up during a routine X-ray screening when officers noticed something unexpected in a carry-on bag. “I saw three blades and distinct claw-like features,” officer Douglas Linn said in the agency’s report. “I was amazed, and even more so when it came out of the bag. I have never seen anything like this during my two years at TSA.”
Property search officer Dennis Oishi conducted a physical search of the bag and confirmed a dangerous item was inside. The passenger voluntarily removed the object once asked about it.
“In my seven years with TSA, this is one of the most unusual items I have encountered. My first thought was, ‘Oh my gosh,’ and my second thought was, ‘Is this what I think it is?'” said Responding Supervisory TSA Officer Ann Rhoades.
Rhoades added that when Oishi asked the passenger whether there was anything sharp in the bag, “he said he wasn’t sure. Obviously, there was.”
Robert Spinden, Seattle TSA’s federal security director, praised the officers’ response. “Officers Linn and Oishi demonstrated the vigilance, teamwork and professionalism that define TSA’s mission every day,” Spinden said. “Their actions prevented a prohibited item from moving beyond the checkpoint and reinforced the importance of careful screening, clear coordination and calm execution. I’m proud of their attention to detail and their commitment to keeping the traveling public safe.”
The TSA shared details of the find in an Instagram post.
Other recent finds elsewhere
The Seattle discovery follows other unusual TSA finds in recent weeks. At Watertown International Airport in upstate New York, officers found a spent smoke grenade hidden inside an aerosol container in a passenger’s carry-on, according to a Sept. 24 TSA release.
At Tampa International Airport, officers discovered a 4-inch, double-edged knife concealed inside a baseball bat-shaped flashlight. TSA Officer Andrew Carter flagged the item after noticing something unusual about the flashlight’s composition during an X-ray scan. A follow-up search by Supervisory TSA Officer Michael Slaughter revealed the knife hidden in the flashlight’s lining. “That is when it detached from the flashlight, revealing a 4-inch, double-edged knife integrated into the handle,” Slaughter said.
