A passenger’s camping equipment raised serious concerns during a recent baggage screening at an Idaho airport. TSA officers discovered a military-grade parachute flare inside a checked bag at Boise Airport.
The agency shared details about the discovery on Wednesday, Aug. 5, but TSA did not say when the bag was screened. The TSA thanked one of its officers for her quick thinking during the situation.
The passenger said he was moving from Washington state to Texas when his vehicle broke down. He reportedly forgot that the flare system was stored inside his camping pack.
An officer initially believed the object on her X-ray screen might be a flashlight. A closer look revealed something much more dangerous, prompting TSA to contact Boise Police, who took the item.
Officer Initially Thought the Flare Was a Flashlight
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An official TSA Facebook post shows the flare and the officers involved in finding it. TSA Officer Kimberly Carrier has more than 12 years of experience.
Carrier recalled in a TSA employee story, “As I panned the image, I saw a mass that was not consistent with all the components of a flashlight. I’ve been trained to be ‘alarmed’ if there is an alarming item in a bag.”
Carrier called her supervisor for another opinion. Supervisory TSA Officer Joseph Romero then searched the bag and confirmed that the object was an actual military-grade parachute flare. “My first thought was, ‘I’m glad it didn’t make it to the plane,'” Carrier added.
TSA explosives specialist Matthew McCarthy from Spokane International Airport also helped evaluate the discovery. He identified the item as an illumination flare launched from a handheld tube.
Flares Are Prohibited in All Airline Luggage
The flare was designed to burn intensely while suspended from a parachute, lighting the sky below. That same heat could create a major hazard inside an aircraft. Boise TSA Manager Brad Birkinbine said the flare could ignite plastics, fabrics and other materials if it were to ignite inside the plane’s cargo area.
Boise Police responded and contacted the department’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit to discuss the military-issued device. Police ultimately took possession of it.
Flares are prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage. TSA recommends carefully inspecting every bag before heading to the airport, especially when using luggage or equipment that has been stored for an extended period.