Soldier Kicked off Flight After Baggage Screeners Find Inert Land Mine in His Luggage

AP ^ | Jan 10, 2004

[Kaslin]

DENVER (AP) - A 24-year-old Army sergeant was removed from an American Airlines flight after an inert land mine was found in his checked baggage, the Transportation Safety Administration said.

TSA screeners noticed the land mine Friday, pulled the bag from the luggage system at Denver International Airport and confiscated the mine, TSA spokesman Mike Fierberg said. No flights were delayed.

The soldier, whose name was not released, could face civil penalties for trying to put a prohibited item aboard a flight, Fierberg said. No criminal charges would be filed, he said.

The man was released by police, but the airline refused to allow him aboard his flight to Dallas, Fierberg said.

[Kaslin]

What a stupid thing to do by the Sergeant

[sd-joe]

Well, at least they noticed it.

[Johnny_Cipher]

A big OOPS bump. The soldier is probably going to hear about this one from his own unit (the mine probably being government property and all that).

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[Kaslin]

Well, I think something like that would be easy to notice, unless they didn't do the job they're supposed to do

[Kaslin]

Oh I imagine he will

[Steel Wolf]

Leave a Claymore in his ruck? Or just bringing home the empty shell of a disarmed land mine he found in Iraq?

[Cultural Jihad]

I think most soldiers bring back souvenirs, but this was pretty stupid.

[BulletBobCo]

Interesting that the thing made it all the way to Denver before detected.

[VOA]

What a stupid thing to do by the Sergeant

(Just joshing...) The Sgt. should have know there's a reason that DHL flies in/out of
Baghdad International Airport!

Seriously, the Sgt. should have paid attention to those notices about contraband
coming out of the Middle East. Even civilians have seen news articles about that.

[BulletBobCo]

Customs Agent: "Anything to declare?"

Passenger: "Liter of Scotch, Rolex watch, pair of Saddam's tenners, and one inert land mine.".

[Iris7]

I think you all are too respectful toward the TSA. Me, I won't fly unless absolutely required anymore.

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

What a stupid thing to do by the Sergeant>>>

You mean, the "Spec Four"? Or perhaps "Private First Class"?

[Prodigal Son]

I wonder, when they say inert, could they possibly mean a 'trainer'. God, there's loads of those claymore, Anti-tank and anti-person. trainers around the military. They're not dangerous.

[taxcontrol]

I suspect that this is more likely the case. A military person would not think there is anything dangerous about a training land mine. In fact, they would not even think to call it an "inert mine".

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Oops! I am glad he didn't try to bring it aboard in his carry on!

[BulletBobCo]

Page five of the TSA list of prohibitive items... Realistic Replica of Explosives.

[Kaslin]

You mean, the "Spec Four"? Or perhaps "Private First Class"?

He'll problably be busted to one of these.

[PoorMuttly]

Oh great shaggy...your "cunning shipping scheme which cannot fail" to save me money just lost my new toy.

Now what am I going to hang off this nice neck chain I have for it..?!!

Good thing the party's next week. Muttly must make a new fashion statement every time...and now he may have to look up "the nice man with the beard in the Denny's parking lot" again, and ask him if he has anything cute in his trunk this week. Ah..the sacrifices the Stylish Muttly has to make. The Adventure continues.

[Slings and Arrows]

I think you all are too respectful toward the TSA. Me, I won't fly unless absolutely required anymore.

Welcome to the club. I haven't flown since Summer 2002 and won't again until Spring 2004. The thieves and bullies of the TSA can go rot.