Buzz
Everyone has had that moment at airport security when they’re stopped for something unexpected. Maybe it’s a pair of nail scissors tucked away in a makeup pouch, a fork accidentally packed for a meal, or simply not realizing certain everyday items are prohibited.
But the individuals on this list took unusual luggage to a whole new extreme. Discover the bizarre and astonishing items airport personnel have uncovered worldwide. Next time you’re on a flight, take a second glance at the person beside you—especially if they seem to be dozing off.
10. Remains of a Human Skull
In 2013, two women traveling through Fort Lauderdale airport were stopped by security after fragments of a human skull and teeth were found in their luggage. The pair, en route to Baltimore, were carrying souvenir pots filled with clay that concealed what seemed to be human remains.
The pots were bought in Cuba from a woman who assured them the items would protect against evil spirits. Instead, the tourists ended up with an unexpected and troubling discovery.
Fortunately, the women were not charged and were permitted to take a later flight home. The pots, however, were confiscated by the Broward Medical Examiner’s Office as potential evidence in a homicide case.
9. A Deceased Individual
In 2010, two women were detained at Liverpool John Lennon Airport after staff grew suspicious of their seemingly asleep companion. The pair, identified as the wife and stepdaughter of Curt Jarant, had brought him to the airport in a wheelchair via taxi.
Upon arrival, it was revealed that the man had passed away. Authorities detained the women, suspecting they were attempting to evade the expenses of repatriating his body. Witnesses claimed to have seen the man breathing and moving, but the police remained skeptical.
The deceased had been suffering from Alzheimer’s and had recently been hospitalized for pneumonia. Despite a coroner’s report confirming he had been dead for over 24 hours, the women continued to deny the allegations. They were eventually arrested for failing to report his death and later released on bail.
Surprisingly, this isn’t the first instance of individuals attempting to transport deceased bodies on flights. It’s a recurring issue for airport security, as families often try to circumvent the high costs of repatriation.
8. A Fish Tank
Security personnel at Los Angeles International Airport were stunned when their explosives detection system flagged a man’s luggage. Upon inspection, they found four sturdy suitcases filled with water, containing nearly 240 live fish.
The fish varied in species and size. While the domestic flight posed no immediate danger to the fish, transporting them in this manner violated airline regulations.
The traveler had purchased the fish from a nearby pet store and intended to bring them home. However, he was informed that checked luggage was not an acceptable method. Instead, he was guided to an information desk to arrange for their legal shipment as cargo.
7. A Living Infant
An X-ray scanner at an airport revealed a shocking discovery: a child hidden inside a suitcase belonging to an Egyptian couple attempting to board a flight to the United Arab Emirates. The pair had smuggled their five-month-old son in a small carry-on bag to bypass border controls.
The infant was found at Sharjah International Airport, leading to charges against the couple for endangering a child’s health and attempting illegal smuggling.
The plan was conceived after the couple arrived in the UAE and realized their child lacked the necessary visa. They were advised to wait two days for the visa office to process the required documents. However, unwilling to wait, they resorted to this reckless scheme.
Thankfully, the baby was found unharmed, but the parents were promptly detained. Airport staff were appalled by the couple’s disregard for their child’s safety, as the infant had been exposed to harmful radiation from the X-ray machine.
6. Lethal Venomous Snakes
A flight at Atlanta airport was delayed after security detected a potential explosive threat in a passenger’s luggage. The man, traveling from Korea to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, was carrying 30 deceased venomous snakes. Further inspection revealed dead birds in his bag, prompting additional scrutiny.
Interestingly, transporting dead snakes and birds is legal. The issue arose from the chemicals used to preserve the specimens. Security also had to ensure safety, as some snakes might still retain venom, causing further delays.
The traveler was charged for using flammable preservation fluids but was eventually permitted to take the snakes with him. Airport authorities remained puzzled about his plans for the preserved animals.
5. Birds (Pigeons)
In 2016, a 50-year-old man from Israel was detained upon returning home from Germany after airport security found six live pigeons in his luggage. The birds, a rare Uzbek breed valued at approximately $200 each, were tied up and concealed in shoeboxes inside the suitcase.
To avoid raising suspicions about the unusual contents, the man labeled his suitcase as belonging to a disabled passenger.
His plan unraveled when staff at the Israeli International Airport uncovered the strange smuggling attempt. The man was charged for lacking the necessary veterinary permits, as the pigeons could carry diseases and endanger Israel’s native wildlife.
4. A Drugged Tiger Cub
Authorities uncovered another smuggling attempt when they found a sedated tiger cub in a woman’s luggage at Bangkok airport. The Thai national was arrested after her overweight bag triggered a routine X-ray scan.
To deceive security, she had placed a stuffed toy tiger alongside the real one, hoping it would blend in. Her strategy, however, was unsuccessful.
The tiger cub recovered fully after the ordeal. The woman, however, faced charges for illegal smuggling and cruelty to animals.
3. A Louisville Slugger Bat
In 2016, a traveler was stopped at airport security for carrying a Louisville Slugger baseball bat in her hand luggage. The bat resembled the one wielded by Negan in The Walking Dead, complete with what appeared to be fake blood.
The incident occurred at an Atlanta airport, where officials initially thought the bat might be an authentic prop from the show. Regardless, it was confiscated as per regulations.
Upon closer examination, the weapon was found to have rubber barbed wire and confirmed fake blood. Despite these details, baseball bats are classified as weapons and banned from carry-on luggage, so the bat was not returned to the passenger.
2. An Active Cannonball
A passenger at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport caused a stir when security found a live cannonball in his checked baggage.
The discovery prompted an evacuation of the baggage area and a thorough investigation. It turned out the man was unaware the cannonball was dangerous. He had retrieved it from a shipwreck during a diving expedition and kept it as a memento.
Despite being from an 18th-century sunken vessel, the cannonball was still considered hazardous. A specialist examined it and warned that underwater explosives can remain unstable and detonate unpredictably.
Encased in coral, the cannonball posed a significant risk, leading to the airport’s evacuation.
1. An Entire Zoo?
In 2009, a South African man was apprehended at an airport while attempting to smuggle more than 70 live animals from Thailand. Border security uncovered a variety of creatures, including snakes, crocodiles, turtles, spiders, scorpions, and frogs.
The animals were suspected to be part of the illegal global trade in endangered species, smuggled into Africa. Customs officials, shocked by the discovery, found them concealed in plastic containers and promptly transferred them to South Africa’s National Zoo for proper care.
The man seemed oblivious to the gravity of his actions and was genuinely shocked when he faced court charges for violating the Environmental Act.
His smuggling attempt sparked outrage, drawing strong reactions from animal rights activists and the African Wildlife Foundation. The black market for smuggling in Africa is thriving, and these groups are deeply concerned about the disruption foreign species could cause to the delicate balance of Africa’s native wildlife.
