Credit: Shutterstock The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has published a ranking of the 10 most unusual findings caught during security checks at US airports during 2025.
At the top of the list is the alarming case of a passenger who was carrying a simulated pipe bomb and wooden blocks marked as C4, which were discovered at the Boise Airport in Idaho. The incident occurred in May 2025, when a checked suitcase triggered an unusual alert in the screening systems. After a thorough inspection, it was determined that these were only replica models, with no explosives. The passenger explained that these were training devices, and the items were abandoned on the spot.
Credit: TSA
Credit: shutterstockThe list of the top 10 unusual finds of 2025 displays other unusual items seized during security screening at various airports in the United States:
- Ammunition and knives wrapped in foil, in Ohio and Newark
- Gun hidden in golf bag, Houston
- Bullets inside a box of Nesquik chocolate, in Miami
- Knife inside child car seat, in Dallas
- Medicine in a shampoo bottle, Alaska
- Knife inside a knee brace, in Illinois
- Drugs hidden in shoes, in Hawaii
- Razor blades inside clothes, in Denver
And, by far, one of the most unusual finds: turtles hidden in pants and a bra, in Newark and Miami.
For travelers, this is a simple reminder that what seems innocent or routine at home may be perceived completely differently at the airport.