TSA Officers Stunned by ‘Wolverine’ Claws Found in Airport Carry-On
It took nerves of adamantium to deal with this bizarre discovery.
Airport security officers are accustomed to finding prohibited items in passengers’ luggage, though a recent discovery in Seattle looked more suited to a superhero movie than an airplane. And they didn’t even need Cerebro to find it.
Two Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers encountered a strange three-bladed object while screening a carry-on bag at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Its sharp, claw-like protrusions immediately caught their attention.
The unusual discovery reminded TSA officers of “Wolverine-style claws and Freddy Krueger blades,” from X-Men and Nightmare on Elm Street, respectively. Even employees with years of screening experience said they had rarely encountered anything quite like it before.
In an Oct. 27 TSA announcement, the agency shared the officers’ reactions and revealed what happened when they spoke to the passenger about the blades.
Unusual Blades Surprise Airport Security Officers
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Not a Marvel-ous idea in your carry-on bag. Adamantium-tally our SEA officers were amazed to see this image roll across their X-ray screen. Please pack all mutant blades in a checked bag.
— TSA (@TSA) October 27, 2026
TSA officer Douglas Linn first spotted the suspicious—and unexpected—item while reviewing X-ray images of a passenger’s carry-on bag. His colleague, Dennis Oishi, proceeded to conduct a physical search, during which he uncovered the three-bladed object.
“I saw three blades and distinct claw-like features,” Linn recalled. He said the discovery surprised him even more once the item was removed from the luggage, adding that he had never encountered anything similar during his two years with TSA.
Supervisory officer Ann Rhoades was just as bewildered. After seven years with the agency, she described the unusual blades as “one of the most unusual items I have encountered.”
According to TSA, the passenger had been asked if there was anything sharp in the bag, to which the passenger said he was not sure.
“Obviously, there was,” added Rhoades.
He later explained that he had forgotten about the item and voluntarily surrendered it at the checkpoint.
TSA Shares Photos and a Reminder About Sharp Objects
The agency decided to have a little fun with the discovery in an Oct. 27 post on X, sharing photographs of the blades and making a joke about the claws resembling the adamantium blades that protrude from between Wolverine’s knuckles.
The accompanying text also reminded travelers to pack sharp objects in checked baggage rather than carry-on luggage. TSA went on to praise the officers for identifying the prohibited item before it passed through security.
Under TSA rules, knives and many other sharp objects are prohibited in carry-on bags. They may generally be transported in checked luggage if properly sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injuries to baggage handlers and inspectors.
Seattle Federal Security Director Robert Spinden commended the officers’ attention to detail and teamwork. The agency did not report any arrest associated with the discovery, and the passenger was allowed to surrender the blades voluntarily.
There has been no word from Professor Charles Xavier concerning the impact this has had on his team.
