Prohibited Items and Threat Recognition Flashcards

While screening a carry-on bag with an X-ray system, a TSO observes several distinct items: a block of cheese (organic, orange), a cell phone (mixed components), a dense metal pipe (inorganic, blue/black), and several loose batteries connected by wires. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate next step?

Answer: Initiate the immediate protocol for a potential Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and notify a supervisor.

The combination of a power source (batteries), a switch/initiator (cell phone components), and a confinement device (pipe) along with a potential explosive (represented by the dense organic cheese) are all components of an IED. Recognizing the combination of these items, or "PIES" (Power, Initiator, Explosive, Switch), as a potential threat is a critical skill, requiring an immediate response and supervisor notification.

A TSO discovers an undeclared handgun inside a passenger's carry-on bag during X-ray screening. What is the correct immediate procedure for the TSO to follow?

Answer: Do not touch the bag, stop the screening process for that lane, and immediately notify a supervisor and Law Enforcement.

TSOs are not to handle firearms discovered at the checkpoint. The standard procedure is to stop the screening process, isolate the bag without touching it further, and immediately notify a supervisor and contact a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) to take possession of the weapon and handle the passenger.

Which of the following tools is generally permitted in a passenger's carry-on baggage, according to TSA regulations?

Answer: A screwdriver that is 6 inches long.

TSA regulations generally permit tools that are 7 inches or less in length to be carried in carry-on baggage. Hammers, crowbars, and power tools must be placed in checked baggage. A 6-inch screwdriver falls within the acceptable size limit for carry-on items.

During a pat-down of a passenger who alarmed the AIT, a TSO feels a hard, non-metallic object sewn into the lining of the passenger's jacket. The passenger claims it is a good luck charm. The object itself is not on the prohibited items list. What is the most appropriate action for the TSO?

Answer: Request the passenger to remove the object for closer inspection; if they refuse, deny entry and notify law enforcement.

Artful concealment of any item, even if the item itself is not prohibited, is a significant security concern and a threat indicator. The TSO must resolve the alarm and inspect the object. Refusal by the passenger to allow inspection of the concealed object requires escalation, including denying entry and involving law enforcement, as the intent cannot be determined.

What is the correct procedure for a passenger traveling with spare (uninstalled) lithium-ion batteries, including power banks?

Answer: They must be packed in carry-on baggage and protected from short-circuiting.

Due to fire risk, the FAA and TSA mandate that all spare lithium-ion batteries, which include power banks and cell phone charging cases, must be transported in carry-on baggage only. They are prohibited from checked baggage. Furthermore, they must be individually protected to prevent short circuits, for example, by keeping them in original packaging, taping over the terminals, or placing each in a separate plastic bag.

A TSO observes an X-ray image of a dense, cylindrical object with wires leading to a small rectangular box. The passenger states it is a homemade portable speaker. Which factor is MOST critical for the TSO to consider when determining if this is a threat?

Answer: The object's resemblance to a pipe bomb, regardless of the passenger's explanation.

Threat recognition training emphasizes identifying the components and characteristics of IEDs. A dense pipe-like object (confinement), wires (conductor), and a rectangular box (potential power source/switch) are all hallmarks of a pipe bomb. While it could be a benign item, the resemblance to a known threat requires the TSO to follow protocol for a potential threat and not accept the passenger's explanation at face value.