TSA officers at Gulf Shores International Airport (JKA) in Alabama intercepted a traveler attempting to carry five Civil War-era cannonballs in their checked luggage on July 18, federal officials confirmed Friday.
The cannonballs, the largest about the size of a grapefruit, were inert and contained no explosive material, according to a TSA statement. They were wrapped in paper towels and had been stolen from Fort Morgan, a historic site that played a key role in the American Civil War. The artifacts were prohibited items under TSA regulations, as artillery munitions are not permitted in carry-on or checked baggage.
A Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigation determined the cannonballs were taken by a juvenile from a storage area at Fort Morgan and placed in the traveler’s grandmother’s checked bag. The grandmother told officers she was unaware the items were stolen. The sheriff’s office said no charges were filed, and the artifacts were returned to Fort Morgan.
TSA Officer Justin Dupree, who discovered the cannonballs during an X-ray screening, described the find as unusual. “I’ve seen inert grenades and training munitions but never an Indiana Jones-esque stolen artifact-type situation,” he said in a statement. A supervisor and explosives specialist were consulted before local law enforcement was notified.
Fort Morgan officials did not respond to requests for comment, and the sheriff’s office confirmed the institution declined to press charges. The TSA emphasized that while the cannonballs were inert, their status as artillery munitions still violated agency rules prohibiting such items on aircraft.
The incident follows a second reported case of a potentially dangerous item at JKA since its opening in May 2025, according to Supervisory TSA Officer Richard Cash. The cannonballs were turned over to local authorities for safekeeping before being returned to Fort Morgan.