TSA detains man reportedly carrying smoke grenades at Newark airport
A man traveling to the Dominican Republic from Newark Liberty International Airport Sunday was stopped by Transportation Security Administration officers for carrying six smoke grenades, officials said.
TSA officers at the checkpoint X-ray monitor found the grenades during an inspection of the passenger's carry-on bag, TSA officials said. Smoke grenades are not illegal.
In a statement, Christopher Murgia, TSA New Jersey deputy federal security director, said “if released, smoke would fill the cabin and cause panic among the passengers and crew and possibly get into the cockpit.”
“It’s quite shocking that someone thought he could bring them on the plane at all because something like that is not even allowed in a checked bag,” Murgia said in a statement.
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The passenger handed off the smoke grenades to TSA security and was able to catch his flight, TSA officials said in a statement.
Contributing: Adrienne Jordan, Paste BN