The launcher was unassembled and non-functioning, the TSA said. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confiscated a "military rocket propelled grenade launcher" at a Pennsylvania airport on Monday. The grenade launcher was found in pieces and unassembled in a man's checked bag at Lehigh Valley International Airport, TSA Public Affairs spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said in a Twitter post. In a press release, the TSA said that the launcher belonged to a Florida man and that it set off alarms as it was passing through the airport's security equipment. The unassembled pieces of the grenade launcher included a barrel, trigger, sights and a grenade replica, the TSA said. "When assembled, the launcher was determined to be non-functioning and the grenade an inert replica," Farbstein wrote, adding, "(Thank goodness!)" Pictures from the TSA indicate the device was over 3 feet long when assembled. The man, from St. Augustine, Florida, was detained by police for questioning, the TSA said, adding that he told law enforcement he believed that he could bring the military rocket-propelled grenade launcher and replica grenade on his flight in a checked bag. "However, no realistic or replica weapons of military nature are permitted to be brought onto airplanes," the TSA press release said. Bringing a weapon or replica weapon to the airport can get you a civil penalty up to $13,000 under TSA rules. While the grenade launcher was confiscated, the TSA confirmed that the Florida man did make it onto his flight to Orlando Sanford International Airport.<doc-sep>While the Transportation Security Administration grapples with an increase in guns coming through the security checkpoints at airports, a traveler at Lehigh Valley International Airport appeared to try to bring some bigger fire power on a plane through a checked bag this week. The TSA said a Florida man’s checked bag on Monday triggered an alarm at the TSA’s checked baggage security equipment, out of the public’s view, at Lehigh Valley International Airport. TSA officers found unassembled parts of a military rocket propelled grenade launcher and what appeared to be a grenade packed inside. The checked bag contained the weapon’s barrel, trigger, sights and grenade, according to a news release. The man, whom the TSA did not identify, was found at his departure gate and detained by police for questioning. Authorities said the launcher components could be assembled, but the device was not a functioning launcher. The grenade turned out to be a realistic replica. By law, realistic or replica weapons of a military nature are not permitted on airplanes, TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said. The items were confiscated and the man was able to catch his flight to Orlando Sanford International Airport. He will not face any criminal charges, Farbstein said. When weapons are discovered in carryon luggage at TSA security checkpoints, the checkpoint shuts down while authorities investigate. Because the items were found in a non-public area, airport business continued as authorities investigated, said LVIA Spokesman Colin Riccobon. Riccobon urged travelers with questions about what they can bring in carryon and checked baggage to do their research before coming to the airport. “Before you assume something is okay to carry on, to check in a bag, take a moment to either visit the airport website, contact the airport, contact the airline and just ask the question. Situations like this really shouldn’t happen,” Riccobon said. Travelers can also tweet questions to the @AskTSA twitter account. The TSA said a traveler tried to bring a non-functioning grenade launcher and a replica grenade in his checked suitcase on March 4, 2019, at Lehigh Valley International Airport. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.<doc-sep>'Whoever Is Watching This, They're Going To Get A Thrill': Willy T. Ribbs, Paul Tracy, Ernie Francis Jr. Discuss Superstar Racing ExperienceThe Superstar Racing Experience inaugural season begins on June 12 at Stafford Speedway. 'Rugrats' Voice Actors E.G. Daily And Cheryl Chase Call New Animation Style 'Brilliant': 'Every Time They Would Show Us We Would Just Gasp''In the words of Chuckie Finster, "Looks like a giant step to me" as the 90's classic Rugrats returns with all-new episodes and a slick modern animation style on Paramount+. 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Sunday, September 26th (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) broadcasting on CBS and available to stream live and on demand with Paramount+ or the CBS app.<doc-sep>TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said TSA agents are in the process of writing a report about the incident. Once completed, the case will be reviewed, and the passenger could face federal penalties, including a fine of up to $13,000. Because the man has not been charged at this time, TSA officials did not release his name.<doc-sep>
This is one way to get yourself launched out of the airport. A Florida man was caught at Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley International Airport on Monday trying to bring a military-grade rocket-propelled grenade launcher – grenade included – onto the flight in his checked bag. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checked the bag after it triggered an alarm and discovered the unassembled parts of the weapon — barrel, trigger, sights and grenade, a press release reported. PHILIPPINE POLICE FIND 1,529 TURTLES ABANDONED INSIDE LUGGAGE AT MANILA AIRPORT The St. Augustine, Fla., resident was detained by police for questioning. However, officers quickly found that the grenade launcher was not a functioning weapon, but a replica. The man reportedly told officials he thought he could bring the item if it was in a checked bag. Though the TSA website says “realistic replicas of firearms” may be permitted in checked bags, no weapons of “military nature” are permitted to be brought onto airplanes in either checked or carry-on luggage, a representative for TSA said in the press release. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Passengers who bring weapons and replica weapons to the airport are subject to possible civil penalties of up to $13,000, TSA shared. The items were confiscated and the man was allowed to continue his flight to Orlando Sanford International Airport, reportedly without a fine. This comes days after federal authorities discovered a fake grenade, pellets and other paraphernalia in a passenger’s luggage at a security checkpoint at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS The passenger reportedly voluntarily abandoned the Airsoft grenade and accessories after TSA found them, and continued to board the flight to London.