TSA Discovers Stolen Civil War Artifacts in Alabama Airport

A routine check by TSA agents turned alarming when they found historical artifacts in a passenger’s bag at an Alabama airport. The incident took place on July 18 at Gulf Shores International Airport (JKA), located about 45 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama.

According to a TSA announcement made on July 24, five Civil War-era shells were found by Justin Dupree, a lead TSA officer at the airport. As he examined the luggage, Dupree noticed a peculiar large object on the X-ray screen. “At first, I thought it could be a medicine ball,” he recalled.

The shells, wrapped in paper towels, varied in size, with the largest resembling a grapefruit. “My initial thought was, ‘I can’t see the fuse, and I need help quickly,’” Dupree said. He was concerned it might be live ammunition.

He promptly notified his supervisor, TSA Supervisor Richard Cash. “I’ve never encountered anything this unique,” said Dupree, who has worked with TSA for about four years. He further added, “I’ve seen inert grenades and training ammunition, but never a relic like this.”

Cash reviewed the X-ray images and agreed that the shells might be dangerous. The local TSA’s explosives experts were called in, and deputies from the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the scene. “It was my first time dealing with potentially live explosives,” Cash remarked.

This incident marked a rare event; according to Cash, it was only the second time they had dealt with possible live explosives since the opening of JKA in May 2025. The shells were categorized as artillery and could not be loaded onto the plane as it was unclear whether they were inert.

With help from explosives experts, it was determined that these shells posed a potential threat to aircraft safety. Investigations later revealed the shells had been stolen from Fort Morgan, a historic site in Gask, Alabama. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office indicated that a boy had taken them from a storage area in the fort.

Officials shared that the shells were discovered in the grandmother’s checked luggage, and the Fort Morgan staff identified the artifacts through specific paint markings. The grandmother claimed she was unaware they had been stolen, and the Fort Morgan warden decided against filing charges, leading to no further actions from authorities.

TSA Alabama Federal Security Director Tara Corse praised the efforts of Officers Dupree and Cash in a statement. “Travelers should never bring any kind of weapons, including replicas, into airports. Even inert items can trigger security alerts, delays, and safety concerns,” she advised.

Further information was requested from the TSA regarding the situation.