No, no, no, no, no, no… no. Please no.
TSA finds boa constrictor in bag at Tampa Airport
While details are fairly limited, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) posted on social media about a recent find in a passenger’s carry-on bag. Specifically, security staff at Tampa International Airport (TPA) saw something suspicious-looking in a passenger’s carry-on bag as it went through the x-ray. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a four foot boa constrictor.
YOW! Presumably the bag was pulled over for secondary screening, so I wonder how that went. Did the TSA officer open the bag and discover the snake directly, or did the snake’s owner warn the officer about it before the bag was opened?
Also, honestly, who is in charge of social media at the TSA? Here’s how the incident is described:
There’s a danger noodle in that bag…
Our officers at Tampa International Airport didn’t find this hyssssssterical! Coiled up in a passenger’s carry-on was a 4’ boa constrictor! We really have no adder-ation for discovering any pet going through an x-ray machine.
Do you have asp-rations of taking a snake on a plane? Don’t get upsetti spaghetti by not understanding your airline’s rules. For instance, airlines don’t allow nope ropes in carry-on bags and only a few allow them to slither around in checked bags, if packaged correctly.
Has all this left you wanting to squeeze out more travel answers? You can always mamba on over to our friends at AskTSA! They’ll rattle out responses to your questions 7 days a week, from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. (ET).
#Snake #BoaConstrictor #NopeRope #DangerNoodle
Admittedly the TSA’s Instagram description acknowledges that the account posts “Travel Tips & Dad Joke Hits.” They sure aren’t kidding about the dad jokes part…
Passenger claims emotional support animal defense
So, what was the passenger’s explanation for having a snake (apparently named Bartholomew) in her carry-on bag? She allegedly claimed it was her emotional support animal. Hmmm:
- Is the snake really providing much emotional support while (cruelly) being transported in a carry-on bag?
- She apparently didn’t get the memo that emotional support animals are no longer allowed, as they’ve been replaced by psychiatric support animals (though they’re generally limited to dogs and miniature horses)
For all the things that the TSA fails to stop in carry-on bags, thank goodness that they found this. For one, it’s cruel to try to transport a snake (or any other animal) in a carry-on. Furthermore, as someone who is terrified of snakes, I sure wouldn’t want this snake getting loose on a plane.
Come and think of it, didn’t a snake end up slithering through the cabin on a flight from Tampa a few months back? Was that a coincidence, or did the same traveler just get away with it last time?
Bottom line
While the TSA finds all kinds of prohibited items in carry-on bags, a boa constrictor is next level. A woman recently tried to travel from Tampa with one, claiming it was an emotional support animal. Thank goodness she was caught.
What do you make of this near “snakes on a plane” incident?
Membership is free and takes no more information than commenting as a guest. Earn status points for good contributions, and see fewer ads as your status grows.