"Toy grenade causes stir at Nashville airport"

Monday, December 20, 2004

Toy grenade causes stir at Nashville airport
By Linda Bryant
The Tennessean


NASHVILLE - A United Airlines passenger caused a stir at the Nashville
International Airport early yesterday because of a toy souvenir grenade from
Fort Campbell in his luggage.

The outline of the toy grenade, which is shaped like an actual grenade that
explodes, showed up on security scanners. Security personnel had no reason
to think it wasn't the real thing, said Lynne Lowrance, spokeswoman for the
airport.

Bomb-sniffing dogs were used to check out the baggage, and the passenger was
detained and questioned.

After the device was taken out of the luggage, it became obvious that it was
a toy.

The passenger is subject to a fine by the Transportation Security
Administration ranging from $500 to $10,000.

Lowrance said the incident didn't cause a lot of disruption and was over
quickly. "It occurred at 6:40 a.m. and was completely over by 7:30 a.m," she
said.

Lowrance urged passengers to "use common sense" about what they pack or
carry onto airplanes.

The name of the passenger with the fake grenade has not been released.


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