Wrapped in Paper: Airport Security Shocked to Discover What Was Hidden in a Suitcase

Security inspectors at an Alabama airport detected five antique cannonballs stolen from Fort Morgan, a Civil War-era fort, during an X-ray scan. The balls, wrapped in paper towels, were found to be inert and returned to the fort. A minor who took the items was not prosecuted.

A routine baggage check at Gulf Shores International Airport in Alabama turned into an unusual incident when lead security inspector Justin Dupree noticed suspicious objects on the X-ray machine. Inside a suitcase were five small cannonballs wrapped in paper towels, the largest the size of a grapefruit and the smallest an inch wide. Initial fears of active explosives were dispelled by airport explosives experts and the Baldwin County Sheriff, who confirmed the balls were inert. However, they were banned from the flight due to security risks. The cannonballs had been stolen from Fort Morgan, a historic site and museum guarding Mobile Bay since 1834. A minor from out of state had taken the items, but the site manager chose not to press charges. Alabama security chief Tara Course emphasized that passengers should avoid bringing weapons or replicas to the airport.