TSA: Man checked missile launcher in luggage at Baltimore airport

BALTIMORE – Federal officials say they’ve found a missile launcher in a man’s luggage at the airport in Baltimore.

In this July 2019 photo released by the The Transportation Security Administration, a section of a missile launcher is seen at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport near Baltimore. Federal officials say they’ve found a missile launcher in a man’s luggage at the airport in Baltimore. The unidentified traveler said he was in the military and coming home from Kuwait and said he wanted to keep the weapon as a souvenir. (Transportation Security Administration via AP)

The Transportation Security Administration said in a statement that the military grade weapon was located in the man’s checked luggage at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

TSA officers called airport police who found the man and detained him for questioning.

The unidentified traveler said he was in the military and coming home from Kuwait. He said he wanted to keep the weapon as a souvenir.

The TSA said the missile launcher was “not a live device.” But it was handed over to the state fire marshal for disposal.

The man lives in Jacksonville, Texas, which is about 115 miles (185 kilometers) east of Dallas. He was ultimately allowed to catch his flight home. /gsg