Smoke Grenade Found Hidden in Aerosol Can at Watertown Airport, NY

TSA officers at Watertown International Airport discovered a spent M18 smoke grenade concealed inside an aerosol container in a carry-on bag. The passenger claimed he had forgotten it was there.

Smoke Grenade Concealed in Aerosol Can Caught at Upstate New York Airport

TSA officers at Watertown International Airport (ART) in upstate New York intercepted a spent M18 smoke grenade hidden inside an aerosol container during a routine carry-on screening, NY Post Metro reports, citing a Sept. 24 release from the Transportation Security Administration.

TSA Officer Yessenia Alvarez, who was operating the X-ray machine at the time, said she "didn't like how the item appeared" when the aerosol container came through on her screen. "I called over Lead TSA Officer Melissa Graffam and told her I did not have a good feeling about it," Alvarez said. "I was very stunned when I saw the item on the screen."

Graffam said the container immediately looked suspicious. "I saw from the image that the top of the can didn't look right but appeared to be empty," she said. "It was located in the side pocket of the bag, so I opened it and saw it was an M18 smoke grenade."

She noted the find was especially unusual for a small regional airport, where prohibited items typically run to knives and oversized liquids. When she asked the passenger why the device was in his bag, he said he had forgotten it was there. "I found [that] strange because his bag only had a few items in it," Graffam said.

Lead TSA Officer Debra Alcock, serving as acting supervisor, notified the Syracuse TSA Coordination Center and a TSA explosives expert, who confirmed the grenade was not live. Alcock described the discovery as one of the most memorable of her tenure with the agency. "The teamwork in resolving this issue was excellent," she said. "Everyone did their part to help control the checkpoint while we resolved the situation."

Brian Bushnell, TSA's federal security director for upstate New York airports, said the incident is a reminder for travelers to check their bags thoroughly before heading to an airport. "Spent, inert or replica explosive items are not allowed through the checkpoint and can cause delays, disrupt operations and prompt a law enforcement response," Bushnell said. "When in doubt, travelers should leave the item at home or check TSA's resources, such as TSA.gov, before packing."

Although many travelers assume spent grenades pose no danger, officials caution otherwise. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has issued public safety alerts specifically regarding vintage grenades and the risks they can still carry.

The Watertown discovery comes alongside a separate incident at Tampa International Airport, where TSA Officer Andrew Carter flagged a carry-on bag after noticing something unusual about a flashlight on his X-ray screen. A closer inspection revealed a 4-inch, double-edged knife concealed inside a baseball bat-shaped flashlight, according to a story published on the TSA's website.

Keith Jeffries, Florida-based vice president of K2 Security Screening Group and a former federal security director for TSA at Los Angeles International Airport, commented on the Tampa knife find. "Do not try to test the system," Jeffries told Fox News Digital. "If you do, you will be caught."

Source: NY Post Metro