The TSA Instagram Account Is Terrifying and Hilarious

#TSAGoodCatch – #TBT – This #Batarang was discovered in a carry-on bag at the #SanAntonio International Airport in December of 2011.

A photo posted by TSA (@tsa) on Feb 19, 2015 at 3:01pm PST

#TSAGoodCatch – These three knives were discovered last week in carry-on bags at the #Detroit (#DTW) Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Knives of any size are prohibited in carry-on bags, and concealed knives – such as a lipstick knife – may lead to a fine and/or arrest.

A photo posted by TSA (@tsa) on Feb 11, 2015 at 2:17pm PST

#TSAGoodCatch – We don’t actually know what this is, but it was discovered in a carry-on bag at the #Baltimore – #Washington (#BWI) International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Any ideas?

A photo posted by TSA (@tsa) on Mar 3, 2015 at 4:46pm PST

The thing above, incidentally, turned out to be a keychain based on a Draven Axe from the game League of Legends.

#TSAGoodCatch – This “monster” holding an inert grenade was discovered in a carry-on bag at the #EagleCounty (#EGE) Regional Airport in #Colorado. While this is a humorous novelty item, TSA officers don’t know items such as these are inert until explosives detection professionals, along with law enforcement, remove the item from the X-ray tunnel and resolve the alarm. This most likely will cause a closure of our checkpoint and lead to missed and delayed flights. Grenades, inert or otherwise, are prohibited from both carry-on and checked bags.

A photo posted by TSA (@tsa) on Jan 30, 2015 at 3:10pm PST

Basic rule of thumb: don’t bring anything that looks like a grenade onto an airplane.

#TBT 2012 – These eels were discovered in a passenger’s checked bag at the #Miami (#MIA) International Airport. Among many other things, the passenger was attempting to transport 163 marine tropical fish and 22 invertebrates to #Maracaibo (MAR). The passenger surrendered the items to the @usfws (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). #TSAGoodCatch

A photo posted by TSA (@tsa) on Jan 8, 2015 at 3:04pm PST

A less intuitive, but still good rule of thumb: keep your bag of eels at home.

#TSACatch – #FBF to 2012 when this expended 84-mm anti-tank weapon (AT4) was discovered in a checked bag at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport (#LBE) in #Latrobe, #Pennsylvania. Anti-tank weapons, expended or live, are prohibited from being transported in carry-on and checked bags.

A photo posted by TSA (@tsa) on Nov 21, 2014 at 6:34am PST

Really guys? We really have to make TSA tell us that anti-tank weapons are prohibited?

#TSACatch: This bullet and gun knife were discovered in a carry-on bag at the #Yuma International Airport. All knives (including knives that look like guns) are prohibited in carry-on bags. However, knives may be packed in your checked baggage.

A photo posted by TSA (@tsa) on Jul 9, 2014 at 4:36pm PDT

#TSACatch: These octagonal sais (top) and shukos (bottom) were discovered in a carry-on bag at the #Chicago Midway International Airport. #MartialArts weapons are prohibited in carry-on bags and are illegal in certain areas of the country. Be sure to research local laws before traveling.

A photo posted by TSA (@tsa) on Jun 30, 2014 at 4:54pm PDT

So there you have it: through the power of social media, TSA proves why it is they are so desperately, desperately needed. Keep taking those shoes off, and laptops come out of the bag, please.