TSA Pulls Three-Bladed 'Mutant' Claw Device From Carry-On

Transportation Security Administration officers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport removed an unusual weapon-like device from a passenger's carry-on bag this week. The agency labeled the object as "mutant blades" after identifying it during a routine security screening.

Douglas Linn and Dennis Oishi, two TSA officers, detected the item while monitoring X-ray images at a security checkpoint. Linn noticed the shape on the screen and flagged the bag for a physical search. Oishi then inspected the luggage and removed the object.

TSA described the item as resembling a mix between Wolverine-style claws and the blades from the movie "A Nightmare on Elm Street." The agency stated that the discovery serves as a reminder that some accessories are better suited for movie screens than airplane cabins.

Linn, who first identified the anomaly, said the image caught him off guard. "I saw three blades and distinct claw-like features," he said in a statement. "I was amazed, and even more so when it came out of the bag. I had never seen anything like this during my two years at TSA."

The passenger told officers they had forgotten the item was in their luggage. After Oishi removed the blades, the traveler voluntarily abandoned the device at the checkpoint. The agency shared photos of the apparatus on X on Tuesday, adding a reminder to pack such items in checked baggage.

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

TSA guidelines allow travelers to pack sharp objects like box cutters, corkscrews, darts, and knives in checked baggage. The rules require that these items be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.