Pepper Spray Mystery on Plane

On an airplane headed out of Sacramento recently, a mystery began. The plane was on its normal flight from Sacramento to Burbank when the people on board began to notice a problem; the odor of pepper spray infiltrated the air.

The plane was only 20 minutes into the flight when the odor was detected. The pilot chose to turn around and return to Sacramento. Once the plane landed without incident the passengers were removed. Another screening was performed and the people were placed on a different flight to Burbank.

The Transportation Security Administration, after initial denials, did state that a container that held an irritant did make it on to the plane. It appears to have been pepper spray. TSA could not pinpoint how the pepper spray made it through the security measures taken prior to luggage and people getting on the plane.

Pepper spray is specifically prohibited in carry-on baggage. In the prohibited martial arts and self defense items section, pepper spray is listed with items that are not to be allowed in the cabin of the airplane. This information is found on the TSA website and should come as no surprise.

The mystery remains as to how the pepper spray escaped notice. After the incident 10 people were checked by medical personnel at the airport. It does not appear as if the pepper spray was intentionally released during the flight, the container went off inside of a carry-on bag.

Luckily, these types on incidents are few and far between. Security measures are generally very effective. TSA did admit that their main focus is preventing any type to item that could bring down a plane from getting onboard and pepper spray does not fall into this category.