An ordinary baggage check took a surprising turn at an Alabama airport when TSA officers stumbled upon stolen historical treasures hidden within a passenger’s luggage, causing quite a stir.
These historical items emerged during the screening of a traveler’s checked suitcase at Gulf Shores International Airport (JKA), situated approximately 45 miles from Mobile, Alabama, on July 18.
According to a story on the TSA website, dated July 24, lead TSA officer Justin Dupree identified the artifacts as five cannonballs from the Civil War era.
Dupree, upon examining the bag, noticed a mysterious large opaque image on his X-ray monitor, which initially made him think of a medicine ball.
The discovery revealed five cannonballs, each varying in size, carefully wrapped in paper towels.
The larger ones were “about the size of grapefruits,” Dupree said.
“My first thought was, ‘I couldn’t see a fuse and need to get some help quick,’” Dupree said, according to the TSA.
“I couldn’t see the entire item but was scared I might have been holding a live explosive.”
He quickly alerted his supervisor, Richard Cash, a supervisory TSA officer.
Dupree, who’s been a TSA officer for about four years, said he had “never seen anything quite this unique.”
“I’ve seen inert grenades and training munitions but never an Indiana Jones-esque stolen artifact-type situation,” Dupree said.
Cash analyzed the X-ray image and agreed with Dupree that the cannonballs could pose a danger.
Regional TSA explosives specialists were notified, and local police and deputies with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office responded to the airport.
“It was my first time dealing with a potentially live explosive.”
Cash told TSA officials that he “had never seen anything like this.”
“It was my first time dealing with a potentially live explosive, and it’s actually only the second incident we’ve had since JKA opened in May 2025,” he said.
The cannonballs were prohibited from the aircraft because they were classified as artillery munitions, and officers could not immediately determine whether they were inert, Cash said.
“With assistance from the [explosives expert] and law enforcement, and because we were unable to initially determine they were inert, they could have been dangerous to the aircraft,” he said.
Officials later found that the cannonballs had been stolen from Fort Morgan, a historic fort in Gasque, Alabama.
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News Digital a juvenile stole them from a storage area within the fort.
The cannonballs “were being transported in the juvenile’s grandmother’s checked bag,” officials said.
“Fort Morgan personnel were able to confirm the items as their property due to paint markings they apply to artifacts,” the office added.
“The grandmother stated that she did not know they were stolen. Fort Morgan’s director chose to not press charges, so there was no further action from us.”
In a statement, TSA Alabama Federal Security Director Tara Corse said she was “very proud of the great catch and teamwork by Officers Dupree and Cash.”
“Even if inert and not active, travelers should avoid bringing weapons of any kind, including replicas, to the airport. They can cause security alerts, flight delays and safety concerns,” said Corse.
Fox News Digital reached out to the TSA for further information and comment.