The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has banned this particular summer essential from being used in most summertime parties. While it is officially the time for summer vacations, the airports will hustle and bustle again, with full queues at the check-in counter, busy cafeterias serving countless cups of coffee, and full flights to various destinations worldwide.
However, the overworked and busy TSA staff would want you to enjoy the flight experience and would not want you to avoid getting delayed while checking in; hence, they have some advice. They reminded visitors to double-check their luggage after a recent incident at Pensacola International Airport shocked everyone.
A passenger tried to pass through security with a camp stove still attached to a propane tank inside their carry-on bag at Pensacola International Airport last week. While the furnace is not prohibited, the TSA clarified that propane tanks of any size are strictly banned from carry-on and checked luggage due to their flammability. The TSA took the incident to its social media site and posted an update.
According to The Mirror, the TSA authorities wrote, “Listen, friends, we love watching cooking shows as much as you do. “ But any top chef should know you can’t bring a stove with a propane tank attached through airport security.
Social media users quickly expressed their shock, and as one commenter wrote under the post, “A propane tank?!? Someone is sorely lacking in common sense!” Another added, “This is truly a weird carry-on in the airport. Great catch, TSA.”
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Meanwhile, any size propane tank is banned in carry-on and checked luggage. While empty and fuel-free camp stoves are allowed, any trace of fuel residue or vapor can still pose a danger and trigger alarms. Therefore, even if someone wishes to head straight to a lavish barbecue picnic from the airport, the BBQ gear must be packed differently.
The TSA’s travel rules became significantly stricter starting January 2025. New flying rules for passengers across America, like the compulsory issue of REAL-ID, and serious hindrances for individuals who bring their guns to a security checkpoint, will result in a federal financial civil penalty.
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“If you want to travel with your gun, it needs to be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided case and taken to your airline check-in counter so that it is transported in the underbelly of the aircraft,” said John Allen, TSA’s Federal Security Director for West Virginia, as per another article by the outlet. Using their AskTSA service for last-minute packing questions is best to avoid losing your valuable belongings during TSA check-ins.
However, if you fail to follow these rules, you might be subjected to a hefty civil penalty of up to $15,000 and the elimination of TSA PreCheck for five years. Additionally, liquids and gels weighing over 3.4 ounces are prohibited in carry-on luggage and must be stored in checked baggage.
GSN-Tighter TSA regulations has announced a ban on certain electronic items in checked baggage. Portable chargers and power banks, used to charge smartphones, must now be packed in carry-on bags only, a rule reinforced following recent in-flight fire incidents. pic.twitter.com/iMR2dhzmlF
— HJ (Hank) Ellison (@hjtherealj) May 9, 2025
As of May 2025, the TSA authorities have also banned power banks, cellphone battery charging cases, spare lithium-ion batteries, spare lithium-metal batteries, cellphone batteries, laptop batteries, external battery packs, and portable rechargers in checked baggage while flying. Since these devices contain lithium batteries, they can overheat and are prone to fire in the cargo area, where all the baggage gets stored.
Therefore, follow the mandatory rules, check the website for any travel doubts or packing-related queries, and have a safe flight for your holiday! Enjoy the time while the sun is still out, and make unforgettable memories with your loved ones.
