TSA officers spotted this foot-long hatchet in a passenger's carry-on bag at the Des Moines International Airport, the agency posted on social media yesterday.
State of play: The passenger told officers that he'd been camping and didn't realize the hatchet was there.
He voluntarily abandoned it and was allowed to continue to his flight, according to a press release.
Zoom in:Axes and hatchets can go into checked bags but not in carry-on luggage.
A first violation may result in a warning notice, while subsequent violations may incur civil penalties ranging from $450 to $2,570, according to TSA's civil enforcement guidance.
The big picture: Weapons are frequently found at airport security checkpoints, with the TSA intercepting 6,678 guns in 2024.
