An unusual incident at an airport in the U.S. state of Alabama left a grandmother facing unexpected questions after five Civil War-era cannonballs were discovered inside her checked luggage during routine security screening.
The discovery was made at Gulf Shores International Airport, where officers from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) detected a suspicious object while scanning baggage on July 18.
According to the TSA, officers searched the suitcase and found five small cannonballs wrapped in paper towels. Supervisors were immediately notified, and local law enforcement launched an investigation.
TSA officer Justin Dupree said that while he had previously encountered inert grenades and training ammunition, this was the first time he had come across historical military artifacts of this nature.
Authorities confirmed that the cannonballs were inert and contained no explosive material. However, they are still classified as military ordnance and are not permitted on commercial aircraft.
Investigation Leads to Historic Fort Morgan
Police later determined that the cannonballs had been stolen from the historic Fort Morgan site.
Officials were able to identify the artifacts using special paint markings applied by Fort Morgan staff, confirming that they dated back to the American Civil War.
According to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, a juvenile allegedly removed the cannonballs from a storage area at the fort and secretly placed them in his grandmother’s checked bag without her knowledge.
The grandmother reportedly told investigators she had no idea the historical artifacts were inside her luggage or that they had been stolen.
Authorities continue to handle the case in accordance with applicable laws involving historical property and juvenile offenders.
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