If you’ve ever been to an airport, you know how interesting it is. The people-watching alone could keep you entertained for hours. I once was on a flight with a grown woman wearing a sparkly purple unicorn onesie--and matching slippers. I don’t even fly that often, so I can only imagine what the airport employees see on a daily basis.
Fortunately, the TSA keeps track of some of the oddest things. And whoever runs their social media accounts has a pretty fantastic sense of humor, as evidenced by a video they posted to Twitter earlier this year. In it, they rank the top 10 things that travelers tried to sneak into an airport in 2021. Prepare to laugh…and scratch your head.
10. Bullets in Deodorant
Evidently, a passenger tried to sneak bullets into some deodorant in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
9. Pistol
Clearly, someone at Newark Liberty International airport didn’t read the one million signs plastered all around stating that guns of any sort are not allowed at the airport.
8. Burrito with a Twist
Who doesn’t love a good burrito? Well, someone at Hobby International airport must have needed a little extra pep (or wanted to lose some teeth without going to the dentist), because they brought a meth burrito to the airport.
7. Firearm Buckle
They can make belt buckles out of anything these days, apparently. But take note: if you have a firearm belt buckle at the Honolulu International airport, the TSA will confiscate it. Best to leave that one at home for a really fancy occasion.
6. Cleaver
This was no June Cleaver moment at Harrisburg International. Perhaps someone was planning to attend butcher school and had a very special meat cleaver they wanted with them?
5. Bear Spray
Who doesn’t go to Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, loaded for bear? Alas, the TSA’s video says that bear spray “is definitely not a bear necessity for your flight!”
4. Machete
Unlike a cleaver, which in theory could be a butcher’s professional tool, a machete just doesn’t really serve a professional purpose. Yet someone tried to sneak one in at Reagan Washington National anyway.
3. Fireworks
Hey, I love a good fireworks show as much as the next guy, but fireworks on a plane just doesn’t sound like a good plan. However, someone at Syracuse Hancock International clearly did not agree.
2. Wine Holder
Someone at Sacramento International thought they’d bring their gun-shaped wine holder on their travels. (I wonder whether it was empty or full?) Smuggling in outside wine is kind of a no-no, and a hard no if it looks like a firearm.
1. Chainsaw
And the number one thing found by the TSA last year? A chainsaw.
But Seriously…Aviation Security
Okay, so most people probably know better than to bring those 10 items to an airport (we hope). But in all seriousness, airport security is…well, serious. And blockchain technology could be one key to increasing it.
For one thing, blockchain could step in and help track baggage and other goods. Taking that a step further, blockchain could be harnessed to track all of the components that are needed to make an airplane. Each piece’s journey and origin would be recorded, ensuring every component’s path to the plane is transparent to make the airplane as safe as possible.
And some airports are already using blockchain. Saint John Airport in Canada uses blockchain for employee entry systems. The system utilizes video so employees don’t have to carry around keys. That obviously means a more secure entrance because there are no keys to be stolen or inadvertently misplaced. Plus, the video records people trying to enter which would come in handy if there’s someone with malicious intent.
Westjet, based in Canada, is testing out blockchain technology for identity verification. This experiment is supposed to verify someone’s identity before they board using facial recognition technology.
Safer Aviation Through Blockchain
While the TSA Top 10 list is pretty entertaining, it’s encouraging to see that airports and airlines are starting to recognize the promise of enhanced security through blockchain technology.
