Grenades Confiscated At Pittsburgh International Airport

MOON TOWNSHIP, PA — You probably wouldn't think the Transportation Security Administration would have to issue reminders that attempting to take a grenade onto an airplane is forbidden.

Think again.

TSA officers on Wednesday confiscated two grenades at Pittsburgh International Airport security checkpoints. One was inert, the other was a smoke grenade, according to TSA Northeast spokesperson Lisa Farbstein.

Regarding the inert grenade, Farbstein posted this on TSA Northeast social media sites: "Most people plan on having a blast on their trip, but this guy wasn't thinking along those lines when TSA officers intercepted this grenade at (an airport) checkpoint. Fortunately, it was inert. However, grenades, live or inert, are not allowed on planes."

Regarding the smoke grenade seized a short time later, Farbstein posted, "Holy smokes.

"The (TSA) team (at the airport intercepted this smoke grenade in a traveler's carry-on bag. Had it been triggered, thick yellow smoke would have been everywhere. Yellow is just not a good look. And besides, you know that there's no smoking on a plane!"

It's much more common for the TSA to confiscate loaded guns at the airport. Fifteen had been seized this year as of May 21; a record 44 guns were confiscated at airport security checkpoints in 2023.