Charlotte-bound airport passenger hid knives in a hollowed-out book, TSA says
A Florida airport passenger bound for Charlotte faces a fine after Transportation Security Administration agents said the flier tried to “trick us” by concealing three pocket knives in a hollowed-out science-fiction book.
TSA agents at Gainesville (Fla.) Regional Airport tweeted Wednesday about the foiled attempt by a 57-year-old passenger.
“Our officers — expert at interpreting X-ray images — found the threat and the passenger faces a fine of more than $4,000.”
The book was “Helliconia Summer,” part of a trilogy by author Brian Aldiss.
The incident happened in August, TSA spokesperson Shari Koshetz said Thursday.
The TSA did not release the passenger’s name or say why they believe the flier deliberately tried to conceal the knives.
In an Aug. 10 news release, the TSA said its agents found three-times more firearms in carry-on bags in July than in July 2019, despite screening 75 percent fewer passengers year to year.
TSA officers found 15.3 guns per million people screened in July compared with 5.1 guns per million screened in July 2019 — a rate the TSA called “alarming.”
Some passengers stopped with guns in their carry-on bags are first-time fliers unaware of TSA restrictions, Koshetz told The (Raleigh) News & Observer last year. Others are in a rush and forget the weapon was in their bag, she said.
This story was originally published September 17, 2020 at 12:04 PM.