Suspicious Toy Shuts Down Louisiana Airport – All Clear Given

Many Louisiana travelers and business people who thought they'd catch a flight on Monday morning out of Louisiana and be on with their day found out that would not be the case early Wednesday morning. As you know security is of prime importance when traveling by air and it doesn't matter the size of the airport, a threat is a threat.

And to the men and women who make up the Transportation and Security Administration making sure you're safe in the airport, safe in the terminal, safe on the tarmac, and safe in the air are what they strive to do every day. Unfortunately, members of TSA and other airport security details, have to deal with people like you and me. 

What Can You Bring and Not Bring to the Airport?

There are multiple places online where even a novice air passenger can find out about what is allowed and what is not allowed on an aircraft. Most of us are familiar with the three-ounce rule regarding liquids and their ability to fit in a plastic bag, right?

What's really frightening is that while folks such as you and me know not to bring the big tube of toothpaste others simply have no clue when it comes to air travel.

Did you know that in the first three months of 2024 agents with TSA confiscated 1,506 guns at checkpoints in our nation's airports? Can you believe that 1,506 individuals were not aware that firearms are not allowed on airplanes? But that's not what shut the Lake Charles, Louisiana airport down on Monday.

Why Was Lake Charles Airport Shut Down on Monday?

The official press releases suggest the culprit for the evacuation of the Lake Charles Airport was a suspicious package. As someone who has been in an airport during a perceived threat, I can tell you that the fear is real. While that package may have looked innocent we know that ne'er do wells who would harm Americans are not.

So, acting on an abundance of caution security personnel as well as members of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Department and Louisiana State Police removed the suspicious package. Upon further investigation, officers determined that the package was not a threat.

What Was in the Suspicious Package at the Lake Charles Airport?

Authorities determined that the item was a novelty toy that looked very much like a hand grenade. Who in the hell brings a toy that looks like a bomb to an airport? Obviously, someone who makes their travel plans out of Lake Charles. Not the smartest move in the book.

However, once the package's contents were identified the all-clear was given and passengers and personnel were allowed to return to the terminal and it was business as usual.  Based on available information there were no charges filed against the passenger who had the novelty item.