#22. Scorpion And Cobra Rice Wine
You probably know that people aren’t allowed to travel with animals – alive or dead – on planes unless you put them inside a cage and comply with a long and tedious series of paperwork. But what’s the policy regarding scorpion and cobra rice wine?
TSA workers at Ontario International Airport realized this man was carrying a bottle of wine with ingredients a bit… unusual, to say the least. They allowed him to carry the bottle in his hand luggage because neither cobras nor scorpions are on the list of endangered species.
#21. A Lobster
As crazy as it sounds, it’s legal to carry a lobster or a crab in your carry-on bags. Obviously, you need to undergo a series of bureaucratic procedures, but it’s doable. However, it must still be shocking to come across a lobster when screening through a passenger’s luggage.
But you know what the worst part is? The lobster was alive! I don’t know about you, but having to pick up and inspect this yucky enormous crustacean is not my cup of tea, and I’m sure this TSA agent feels the same.
#20. Exotic Birds
Is it OK to carry a bird if it’s caged and if you’ve followed the adequate packing procedures? Yes. Is it OK to stuff a bunch of parrots inside your socks and have them taped onto your chest? Mmm… I think you know the answer.
Did this woman really think she would get away with it? Obviously, the police had her arrested as soon as they realized she was smuggling parrots. Miraculously, the little birdies were unharmed, while the woman served a few months in prison for her unlawful actions.
#19. An Unusual Tool
There are two things I don’t get about this picture. First of all, why would anyone ever wanna travel with a hoe? But most importantly, why doesn’t this person buy a new one? Come on, how much can they cost?
I think it’s pretty obvious, but please bear in mind that all sorts of gardening tools must be delivered with the rest of your checked baggage, so don’t even try taking them on board.
#18. Pizza
Got your plane ticket? Check! Got your extra pair of shoes? Check! Got your pizza? Check! This person has taken the passion for pizza to whole new levels, and the TSA agents must have had a laugh.
If you think about it, people from Chicago and New York always complain that the pizza anywhere else is just wack, so I’m actually not surprised someone did this. I may give it a thought on my next flight!
#17. Nun Chucks
Carrying this object on your carry-on bag isn’t actually a criminal offense, but the TSA agents must’ve taken offense if they happened to be Christian. Why would anyone even buy this in the first place? Oh well, I guess it’s nun of our concern.
It’s needless to say that bigger and more threatening chucks will be confiscated if you try to board them on a plane. As to these mini nun-chucks, I’m sure they’re pretty inoffensive. The airport workers thought the same, as they let the man keep them.
#16. Pole Vault Poles
The pole vault poles shown in the image must be at least 15 feet tall. Now, how the hell did they manage to pass them through the X-ray machines? And most importantly, how many people were needed to carry them all the way to the airport check-in counter?
You should always bear in mind that every single object must be scanned through the X-ray machines, no matter how big they are. Also, don’t forget to ask yourself: do I really need giant vault poles?
#15. Flaming Book Prop
While this book prop may come off as a funny and rather ingenious prank, I’m pretty sure TSA agents won’t feel the same way. We know how serious they are about carrying inflammable items, so you do the maths.
In fact, this fellow could’ve easily been arrested. No matter how silly the prank is, you can be mistaken for a terrorist or a plane hijacker, and believe you me, you don’t want that to happen. Batteries of any kind are definitely a no-no.
#14. Tomahawk
It’s common knowledge that – unfortunately – many Americans keep guns or other firearms in their homes. However, some others are more old school and prefer to stick to weapons of yesteryear.
Take this guy, for example, who tried to take this Native-American tomahawk as part of his carry-on luggage. Even though it’s strictly forbidden to board any sharp objects or weapons on a plane, you can easily have it ridden below with the rest of your checked baggage.
#13. Baby Penguins
No person is exempt from crossing the X-ray security checks at the airport, but it appears to be that this applies to penguins as well! These baby penguins named Pete and Penny were left with no choice but to walk past the TSA checkpoints and they went off without a hitch.
Can you imagine being behind these birdies when going through the endless airport queues? I can’t help but wonder if these fellas had their own passports! What we do know is that this picture was taken at the San Antonio International Airport and that they made it back home.
#12. Gladiator Mask
Next time you visit Rome, you definitely need one of these super-cool gladiator masks! Believe it or not, this man asked the TSA guys on Twitter whether or not he would be allowed to take this shiny metal mask as part of his checked luggage.
We’re not sure whether the guy was joking or not, but one way or another, he did receive a response. He was told he couldn’t take the helmet in his carry-on bag but had to take it with his checked luggage instead.
#11. Cow Horn
You know what they say, when it’s time to pack, don’t forget your cow horn! Surprisingly, this passenger had no problem going through the TSA checkpoints with this cow horn inside his carry-on bag.
As ridiculous as it sounds, some people use cow horns as a drinking vessel, a millenary custom started by the Vikings. Back in the 5th century, many European nomadic tribes such as the Thracians would use this item to smother their thirst.
#10. Alligator Head
Out of all the items you’ll find on this list, this is probably the creepiest one. Why would anyone ever carry an alligator head with them? The TSA agents must’ve been so confused when they saw this, they probably didn’t even know what the policy regarding alligator heads was.
Also, is it me, or does the creature’s face look happy? To be honest, that makes the whole thing even creepier! It’s almost as if the head were happy at the thought of traveling! Crazily enough, the alligator (or what’s left of him) made it past the TSA checkpoints.
#9. Bees
OK, I can get why someone would wanna carry a lobster with them. After all, they are quite tasty, not to mention they’re a very hard catch. But bees? Really? You can find new bees literally anywhere in the world!
A passenger actually asked the TSA agents on Twitter whether he could carry his grandma’s bees as part of the carry-on luggage, and guess what? They gave him permission! To be fair, there’s really no risk if they’re trapped, but can you imagine how annoying the buzzing must be?
#8. Bow And Shovel
To be honest, I’m not always sure about which things I’m allowed to take in my carry-on bags, but sometimes, it’s just a matter of common sense. For instance, it’s pretty obvious that you won’t make it past the security checks with a bow and a shovel.
I don’t know about you, but I definitely wouldn’t feel safe getting on a plane if the person next to me was carrying a bow. Have you not seen We Need to Talk About Kevin?
#7. Car Headlights
I don’t understand why I need to say this, but car headlights don’t belong anywhere else other than cars, much less in your carry-on bag-pack! However, this man decided to make it past the TSA checkpoint with a car headlight inside his luggage.
However, the man had been precious, as he had previously asked on Twitter what was the airport’s policy regarding headlights. And guess what? It turns out it’s OK to take them either on your checked or carry-on luggage! Who would’ve thought?
#6. Grenade Truck Hitch
As you know, TSA agents are super strict when it comes to inflammable objects or explosives… or things that look like explosives! Even though this grenade truck hitch is fake and completely harmless, I can understand why it would raise suspicion.
In fact, TSA agents are obliged to call the bomb squad if they detect or come across anything that looks like a bomb, no matter how fake they look. So if you really need to take your grenade with you (what for, one might wonder???), you should find yourself a plan B.
#5. Antlers
If you thought that a crocodile head was going to be the strangest and creepiest item on this list, you couldn’t have been wronger! This guy took things to the next level, as he asked the TSA Twitter account whether it was OK to travel with these antlers.
If you ask me, it shouldn’t even be legal to own antlers! I mean, it’s just cruel! The passenger was told that packing the antlers with the rest of the checked baggage was OK, but taking it on the plane was way too risky. Besides, they wouldn’t even fit in the compartments!
#4. Gas Mask
Is it me, or does this golden gas mask look exactly like the ones that the creatures from The Village wore? These sorts of masks really seem to belong to a horror film, but do you know where they don’t belong? On a plane!
Besides, did you notice the mask has bullets? Sure, they’re fake, but as we’ve said, anything that looks like a bullet or any sort of weapon will be immediately reported to security, and that means having to deal with the bomb squad.
#3. Bear Spray
You know what they say, if you ever catch a flight, watch out for the bears! If this guy took a bear spray to an airport, I wonder what he would take if he went camping!
Obviously, he couldn’t make it past the TSA checkpoint, as all types of flammable objects are strictly forbidden. As to bear sprays, you can’t even put them inside your checked luggage, as they exceed the maximum amount of active ingredient that a product can have.
#2. Plastic Battle Ax
Where you hoping to take your plastic and harmless battle-ax aboard the plane? Well, you can’t. You should’ve learned by now that any object that looks like a weapon, no matter how fake it is, is strictly banned.
So remember, if you ever have any doubts regarding which objects are allowed aboard a plane, ask the TSA Twitter account. You wouldn’t wanna show up at your medieval battle without your ax just cause you didn’t ask!
#1. Dragon Balls
This guy tried to cross the TSA checkpoint with a box full of dragon balls, as we all are at some point in the day. While the TSA agents took their time scrutinizing these unusual spheres, the man was lucky, as he was finally given permission to board them on the plane.
We can’t judge the TSA workers, as these spheres could’ve easily contained some sort of drug inside them. Luckily for them, the man was just another crazy Dragon Ball fan.