As the July 4 Independence Day holiday approaches, the Transportation Security Administration wants to remind travelers that fireworks and sparklers are not permitted on airplanes.
Fireworks and sparklers are flammable and are manufactured from explosive materials. They are considered hazardous and forbidden on aircraft in checked baggage or carry-on bags. This applies to all varieties including, but not limited to: aerial repeater fireworks, aerial shell fireworks, bottle rockets, chasers, firecrackers, flying spinners, fountains, ground spinners, missiles, parachute fireworks, poppers, Roman candles, skyrockets, smoke fireworks, snakes, snaps, sparklers, strobes and wheels.
Travelers are responsible for the items that they pack in their checked bags and the items they have with them in their carry-on bags. Individuals should be sure to clear their bags of any prohibited items before coming to an airport. If travelers are unsure as to whether an item is allowed to be brought on an airplane, TSA has a feature on its website called “When I fly, can I bring my ______?” It allows travelers to type in an item to find out immediately whether the item can be packed in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither.
When fireworks or sparklers are detected at a checkpoint, it results in a “bag check,” which requires a TSA officer to remove the bag from the screening belt, calling the passenger over to the side and then opening the bag to remove the prohibited items. After checking the bag for any other traces of explosives, the bag then needs to be rerun through the x-ray machine. This can result in a delay of several minutes for the traveler.
So don’t forget, fireworks don’t fly.
