TSA Discovers Alarming Item in Baseball Bat Flashlight at Airport

WHO:

NY Post - A passenger was arrested at Tampa International Airport.

Fox News - TSA Officer Andrew Carter and Supervisory TSA Officer Michael Slaughter were involved in the incident.

Fox News - Keith Jeffries, a former TSA official and vice president of K2 Security Screening Group, provided commentary on the situation.

WHAT:

NY Post - TSA discovered a frightening object inside a baseball bat-shaped flashlight.

Fox News - A 4-inch, double-edged knife was found concealed inside the flashlight.

Fox News - The passenger was not allowed to travel after the discovery and was arrested.

WHERE:

NY Post - The incident occurred at Tampa International Airport.

WHEN:

Fox News - The TSA discovery occurred recently, with no specific date provided.

WHY:

Fox News - The passenger initially claimed he did not know the knife was in his bag but later admitted to placing it beneath the suitcase lining to save space.

HOW:

Fox News - TSA Officer Andrew Carter used an X-ray machine to screen the passenger's carry-on bag and noticed something unusual about the flashlight.

Fox News - Supervisory TSA Officer Michael Slaughter searched the bag and felt a mass beneath the flashlight's lining, leading to the discovery of the knife.

(UPDATED September 21, 2026 23:00 UTC)

A passenger was arrested at Tampa International Airport after TSA officers discovered a concealed four-inch double-edged knife inside a baseball bat-shaped flashlight during a routine screening. TSA Officer Andrew Carter noticed something unusual while using an X-ray machine, prompting Supervisory TSA Officer Michael Slaughter to search the bag, where they found the knife hidden beneath the flashlight's lining. Initially, the passenger claimed he was unaware of the knife's presence but later admitted to placing it there to save space in his luggage.