A Pennsylvania man was caught with a turtle hidden in his pants when the Transportation Safety Administration physique scanner triggered an alarm within the space of the person’s groin at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport final week, the company says.
A TSA officer administered a pat-down of the world of the person’s physique the place the March 7 alarm was triggered, and in doing so, decided that there was one thing hid within the space of the person’s groin.
When requested if there was one thing hidden in his pants, the person, a resident of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, reached down the entrance of his pants and pulled out a reside turtle wrapped in a small blue towel, the TSA says.
The turtle was estimated to be about 5 inches in size.
The person informed officers that it was a red-ear slider turtle.
Port Authority Police questioned the person, took possession of the turtle and indicated that they’d contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and native animal management officers. The person missed his flight and was escorted out of the checkpoint by police. TSA says the turtle didn’t seem to have been harmed.
“I commend our officer who conducted the pat-down in a very professional manner in an effort to resolve the alarm,” stated Thomas Carter, TSA’s Federal Safety Director for New Jersey. “We have seen travelers try to conceal knives and other weapons on their person, in their shoes and in their luggage, however I believe this is the first time we have come across someone who was concealing a live animal down the front of his pants.”
