A traveler passing through security at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison was stopped after a Transportation Security Administration officer spotted what looked like a knife on an X-ray screen, according to an account TSA published detailing the incident.
When officers opened the bag, they found the knife had been taped down inside the luggage, TSA said. The passenger, who has not been identified, later told officers she had tried to hide the knife because she was headed on a camping trip and wanted to avoid checking her bag.
“Her response to me was, ‘I was attempting to conceal this knife from TSA,'” said Supervisory TSA Officer Andrew Kasten.
The woman said she had chosen to carry the item on board rather than check her luggage because she wanted to avoid a $100 baggage fee, TSA said. She also told officers she did not expect the knife to be discovered.
TSA Officer Callie Meis, who has worked for the agency 22 years, was the one who flagged the bag for additional screening after seeing the suspicious shape on the X-ray image. That flag, along with the passenger’s admission, led Kasten to call in law enforcement. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office and TSA Manager Annie Lu both responded to the checkpoint.
“I have encountered many knives over the years, but never in this position within a bag,” Kasten said.
Jim Kohn, a 21-year TSA veteran, said he has seen knives slip through holes in purses, bag liners or jacket pockets by accident, but this case was different because the passenger admitted she had deliberately taped the knife in place.
“Our team does a great job making sure every possible threat is found when we need to conduct additional screening,” Kohn said.
Kasten used the incident as a warning to other travelers tempted to hide prohibited items to save money on baggage fees.
“When contemplating the options of saving a few dollars or paying a federal civil penalty due to something hidden, I recommend being smart about it. For whatever reason you may be traveling, don’t jeopardize your income or freedom just to save an item like this $5 knife.”
The passenger voluntarily gave up the knife and was allowed to continue her trip, according to TSA. Fox News Digital said it had reached out to TSA for further comment.
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