Civil War cannonballs discovered in luggage at Alabama airport

Transportation Security Administration officers at Gulf Shores International Airport in Alabama discovered Civil War-era cannonballs wrapped in paper towels inside a traveler’s luggage on July 18.

The discovery caused an immediate security alarm as officers initially feared the objects might be live explosives. TSA officer Justin Dupree reported that the varying sizes of the projectiles, the largest being comparable to a grapefruit, made the situation particularly concerning during the initial screening.

Police investigations determined that the cannonballs were inert and had been stolen from Fort Morgan, a nearby coastal stronghold. The passenger involved claimed to be unaware of how the items were acquired. Authorities have since returned the antique artillery projectiles to Fort Morgan.