Civil War Cannonballs Discovered in Alabama Airport Luggage

On July 18, a TSA agent at Gulf Shores International Airport in Alabama found Civil War-era cannonballs in a passenger’s suitcase. The discovery occurred during a routine security screening. Initially, the agent mistook the suitcase’s contents for a large, opaque item possibly a medicine ball, during an X-ray inspection.

Upon further inspection, the agent opened the luggage and found five small cannonballs wrapped in paper towels. Lead TSA Officer Justin Dupree was involved and noted his initial concern about handling a potential explosive. He sought assistance immediately.

Though the cannonballs didn’t contain explosive material, they are considered prohibited items on planes. Supervisory TSA Officer Richard Cash noted the rarity of the situation, mentioning it was only the second incident of its kind since the airport’s opening in May 2025.

Authorities determined the cannonballs were stolen from Fort Morgan. They identified the items through paint markings applied by the fort’s staff. The cannonballs date back to the American Civil War, where Fort Morgan played a significant part.

The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office reported that a juvenile stole the cannonballs from the fort’s storage area and placed them in their grandmother’s checked bag. The grandmother claimed ignorance regarding their origin. Although Fort Morgan’s representatives did not comment, the institution chose not to press charges, and the artifacts were returned.

This incident is part of a larger pattern noted by the TSA as they screen over 2 million passengers daily this summer. They have come across unusual items, including live smoke grenades, an inert grenade, a pipe bomb look-alike, and a samurai sword concealed in a guitar case.