iPod Charger Mistaken for Bomb..

A TSA guard at JFK refused to let a passenger through because he thought their DIY iPod charger (above) looked like an IED.

I tell him it is a battery charger for my iPod. He asks if I made it myself, to which I reply that I purchased a kit over the internet. He says that he can't let me on the plane with it. I explain to him that I have flown with it 4-6 times a month for a year now and nobody has questioned it. He says, "Not on my watch and not with my people." He swabs the device and runs it through the calorimeter. Again, no residue.
I ask why it can't be taken on the plane and he said, "Because it looks like an IED."

I understand being cautious when it comes to airport security, but this is ridiculous. This is basically some batteries and plastic glued to a USB port. Yeah, it looks suspicious, until you actually look at it. The police were eventually brought in and they determined it was fine, except they took the batteries. Because Lord knows what kind of mayhem you can do with two D sized batteries.


http://www.geekologie.com/2007/07/19/tsa-bomb-ipod.jpg

lollage - First an Ipod Saves a Soldies life
Now an Ipod Accesory is mistaken for a bomb.

How the hell does that look like a bomb - but I suppose security is very tight with UK and USA being on High Terror Alert atm!

Airport security has been tightened over the past 2 years

Yeah but that is a joke..
"I understand being cautious when it comes to airport security, but this is ridiculous. This is basically some batteries and plastic glued to a USB port. Yeah, it looks suspicious, until you actually look at it. The police were eventually brought in and they determined it was fine, except they took the batteries. Because Lord knows what kind of mayhem you can do with two D sized batteries."

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Originally Posted by Purpleness

Airport security has been tightened over the past 2 years

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how is that a bomb...

stupid securtiy, next you wont be allowed a M acdonals at an airport.. plastic explaosive, that what it tastes like anyway

Sure batteries I gotta agree with... but well.... no real answers...

lmao! :D

Well i personally would prefer them to be noticing things that look suspicous, rather than letting them go by. :)

Sorry but people who make a big issue over getting things taken from them bug me.

I'd rather lose my crappy home made ipod charger because I was too cheap and stingy to buy one in the first place, and put other peoples minds at ease and help upkeep the security of the airport and other passengers.

I don't blame the guy who wouldn't let him on the plane. He thought it was a bomb, so he did what he had to do. If he hadn't say it was a bomb & he had let the guy on the plane? He made sure that it wasn't a bomb & if it was a bomb for real, he saved many lives. But it wasn't a bomb, but he still had to be sure. He did the right thing. Don't blame him.

I 100% agree with the last three posts

i wouldn't blame security for taking the charger and looking at it. if it looks funny, by all means. but i suppose they should have realized it wasnt a bomb once looking at it.

People say it's ridiculous now but if it had been a bomb and gone off people would be criticising the security. Plus, simple bombs are generally made out of plastic and batteries. Cliche Habbo term: better safe than sorry.

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Originally Posted by Virgin Mary

People say it's ridiculous now but if it had been a bomb and gone off people would be criticising the security. Plus, simple bombs are generally made out of plastic and batteries. Cliche Habbo term: better safe than sorry.

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Maybe so but they need some sort of explosive or flammable material and there clearly isn't one there.

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Originally Posted by Ostinato

Sorry but people who make a big issue over getting things taken from them bug me.

I'd rather lose my crappy home made ipod charger because I was too cheap and stingy to buy one in the first place, and put other peoples minds at ease and help upkeep the security of the airport and other passengers.

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:S it's not crappy, from what i interpreted it seemed like it was better than a normal one.

& yeah i think it's fair enough they looked at it because it looked a bit dodgy but they did go a little OTT.

i think its good that airlines are taking extra precautions.

Rofl, it looks harmless. Its just a piece of plastic and few pieces of metal. Ahh well, better safe than sorry.