A teenager stole five Civil War cannonballs from a historic Alabama fort and tried to fly home with them in a suitcase, but TSA caught the unusual haul
Historic cannonballs discovered during routine TSA baggage screening Bomb specialists confirmed the cannonballs were not dangerous Teen allegedly placed the relics inside his grandmother's luggage
Historic cannonballs discovered during routine TSA baggage screening Bomb specialists confirmed the cannonballs were not dangerous Teen allegedly placed the relics inside his grandmother's luggage No criminal charges were filed after the artefacts were returned A routine baggage screening at an Alabama airport turned into an extraordinary security incident after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers discovered five Civil War-era cannonballs hidden inside a checked suitcase.
The rusted artillery relics, some as large as grapefruits and wrapped individually in paper towels, had allegedly been taken by a teenager from Fort Morgan, a historic military fort overlooking Mobile Bay. Unsure whether the cannonballs were live explosives, TSA officers immediately called bomb specialists and local law enforcement.
The objects were later confirmed to be inert historical artefacts and were returned to the fort, bringing an unusual theft to an end before the passenger boarded the flight.The incident took place on 18 July 2026 at Gulf Shores International Airport in Alabama.
Lead TSA Officer Justin Dupree noticed an unusual object while examining
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