B737-800
Flight Attendant Current
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Security; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Misconduct
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Procedure
During boarding I was in my boarding position at the overwing. After assisting with some pre-boarding customers boarding stopped and the D FA (Flight Attendant) informed me that while assisting a passenger in a wheelchair into the seat 2A she was stowing her purse in the overhead bins as it is a bulkhead seat. She asked the customer if she needed a bottle of water or anything from her purse and the customer replied 'no it's just bottle rockets'. The D then informed the Captain who called a Supervisor who took the bottle rockets from the passenger's purse. While we continued to board an employee that had pre-boarded to ride the jumpseat informed us she thought the customer had more in her other carry-on bag. Boarding then stopped again and the Supervisor asked her if she any more fireworks and the customer said no. The Supervisor checked her other carry on and discovered another large; approximately 12-18 inches wide triangular shaped firework as well as other fireworks including sparklers. The Supervisor also removed these from the aircraft; and the customer was upset that she would disappoint her grandchildren. The passenger said TSA let her through with these explosive materials. TSA should be more vigilant in screening all passengers including those in wheelchairs for explosive materials; perhaps using dogs more frequently; especially at times of year like this when fireworks are easier to obtain.
B737 Flight Attendant reported passenger had fireworks in carry on purse while pre-boarding.