BWI Security Finding More Knives, Prohibited Items As Rusty Travelers Return To Airport

LINTHICUM, MD — With rusty travelers returning to the skies, security officers are finding too many prohibited items at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

The passenger volume at BWI Airport has rebounded to near pre-pandemic levels. Some travelers haven't flown in a while, so many forgot what items are allowed at the airport.

The Transportation Security Administration has recently found everything from daggers to machetes. TSA thinks passengers may need a refresher on security rules as they start to travel again.

"Travelers play an important role in ensuring a smooth and efficient security checkpoint screening experience," said Christopher Murgia, TSA's Federal Security Director for Maryland. "It starts with knowing what you should and should not pack in a carry-on bag."

Knives are some of the most common prohibited items spotted at security. Murgia reminded passengers that knives are not allowed in carry-on bags but are permitted in checked luggage.

TSA officers have found everything from cleavers and switchblades to chef's knives and butter knives. Common knives like Swiss Army knives and keychain knives are also prohibited.

Travelers can only bring tools in their carry-on if the tools are less than 7 inches long.

Other common prohibited items include:

• Pepper spray
• Inert grenades
• Axes
• Railroad spikes
• Throwing stars
• Stun guns
• Fireworks
• Sparklers

"We ask travelers do to their part by ensuring that they do not have any prohibited items with them at the checkpoint," Murgia said in a Friday press release. "Our TSA officers are seeing a lot of knives, brass knuckles, martial arts weapons and large tools, which can be used as bludgeoning instruments."

When a TSA officer finds a prohibited item, they give travelers a few choices. The passenger can:

• Put the item in a checked back
• Mail it to their home or destination
• Give it to somebody who isn't traveling
• Return it to their vehicle
• Voluntarily surrender it to TSA

On the other hand, it is illegal to carry guns and ammunition onto a plane.

Travelers can bring firearms in their checked baggage if the guns are unloaded, placed in a hard-sided locked case and packed separately from ammunition. Passengers must then take the locked case to the airline check-in counter and declare their gun.

"We want people to 'know before they go' to the airport in terms of where to pack items," Murgia said.

Travelers can learn more by downloading the free myTSA app. TSA's app has a "What can I bring?” feature that lets passengers type in any item to see if it can fly. That tool is also available on this webpage.

More information is posted at tsa.gov. Travelers can additionally contact TSA on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA.