Ahead of Father’s Day weekend, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has taken to social media to issue light-hearted warnings and guidance about all manner of airplane-averse goods — improperly packed jerky, meat marinades in excess of 3.4 oz, and pocketknives, among other items.
However, when a passenger tried to bring a camping stove — complete with fuel — through a security screening in Pensacola International Airport, the agency got serious in a Facebook post.
“This one was hard to miss, but great job by our team at Pensacola International Airport (PNS) for discovering this during standard checkpoint screening on Monday, and educating the passenger on the regulations we have around prohibited items,” TSA wrote in response to the incident.
According to the agency, the passenger “said he was unaware that stoves and propane tanks couldn’t be carried on a plane.”
Who would have guessed that combustible fuels and airplanes don’t mix? These skeptical commenters.
“He knew! If you have to bring travel-size shampoo, you know. Good catch by TSA,” applauded one user, while another agreed: “A propane tank?!? Someone is sorely lacking in common sense!”
“This is truly a weird carry-on,” said one bothered reader.
Luckily, determined campers are allowed to bring clean stoves, provided they’re completely empty of fuel, the agency clarified.
Several know-it-all passengers tried to come to this Florida man’s defence.
“Those use Butane. FYI. But thanks for keeping me safe from small appliances,” said one sarcastic camping expert.
However, many viewers simply didn’t care about this distinction.
“Love the comments that it’s butane, not propane. Who cares? It is flammable and shouldn’t be on a plane. Rampant stupidity,” one staunch reply read.
“One brain cell,” another decreed.
This incident is the latest in a string of several other recent strange airport security happenings — with one high-profile example being Ellen Pompeo’s fancy sunflower seeds.
Many passengers opt to bring their own snacks to the airport to save time and avoid the exorbitant costs of limited terminal restaurants, but for the convenience of both the agency and travelers, TSA provides airport-goers with a comprehensive list of food items that are travel-friendly.
While the overall consensus on the wild camping item the Florida passenger brought was harsh, this commenter saw the humor in the situation and cut the offending traveler some slack: “Oh, come on, TSA, be considerate. The food I prepare on that mini stove tastes so much better than airline food.”
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