TSA Removes Three-Bladed Claw Device From Seattle Carry-On

Travelers flying out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport recently encountered an unusual security stop when Transportation Security Administration officers removed a three-bladed object from a carry-on bag. The agency announced the discovery this week, noting the item drew immediate comparisons to popular film and comic book villains.

Officers Douglas Linn and Dennis Oishi identified the object while reviewing X-ray images at a security checkpoint. Linn, who first flagged the bag, said the visual data caught him off guard. "I saw three blades and distinct claw-like features," Linn said in a statement. He added that he was amazed when the physical item emerged from the luggage, noting he had never seen such an object during his two years with the TSA.

Oishi searched the bag and removed the device. TSA described the item as resembling a mix between Wolverine-style claws and Freddy Krueger blades. The references point to the Marvel Universe character and the villain from the horror franchise A Nightmare on Elm Street. The agency stated the find should remind passengers that some accessories are better suited for movie screens than airplane cabins.

The passenger told officers he had forgotten the item was in his luggage. After Oishi removed the blades, the traveler voluntarily abandoned them at the checkpoint. No further details were provided regarding the flight destination or the passenger's identity.

Ann Rhoades, the supervisory TSA officer, said the blades ranked among the most unusual items she had encountered in her seven years with the agency. She recalled her initial reaction with surprise. "My first thought was, 'Oh my gosh,' and my second thought was, 'Is this what I think it is?,'" Rhoades said.

TSA shared photos of the apparatus on X on Tuesday. The post included a note joking that the item was not a Marvel-ous idea for a carry-on bag. The agency added a reminder for travelers to pack all mutant blades in a checked bag.

Under current TSA guidelines, air travelers may pack sharp objects such as box cutters, corkscrews, darts, and knives in checked baggage. The items must be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.