TSA officers at Palm Springs International Airport found a live 25mm explosive round in a checked bag on March 31, leading to a coordinated response by local police, Riverside County EOD and military representatives. The traveler, a U.S. Marine, said he had found the heavily corroded round in a field about a year earlier and believed it was inert. EOD technicians confirmed the round was live, removed it from the airport and conducted a controlled detonation south of I‑10 with no injuries. The case has been referred to the Riverside County District Attorney for possible charges under California Penal Code §18710; the Marine may also face military and TSA actions.
TSA Finds Live 25mm Round in Checked Bag — U.S. Marine Detained at Palm Springs Airport
A TSA officer completes a bag security screening.Credit: Shelby Tauber/Bloomberg via Getty
TSA officers discovered a live 25mm explosive round inside a checked bag at Palm Springs International Airport on March 31, prompting a multiagency response and the temporary detention of the traveler, the Palm Springs Police Department said.
TSA alerted Palm Springs police, the Riverside County Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team and military representatives after routine screening identified the suspicious munition. County bomb technicians used X-ray equipment and determined the item was an active explosive round rather than an inert training munition.
What the traveler told investigators
Palm Springs International AirportCredit: Getty
During initial questioning, the traveler — identified by authorities as a U.S. Marine — said he had found the corroded ordnance in a field about a year earlier and believed it to be inert. Extensive rust and corrosion had obscured the round’s original paint markings, making visual identification impossible.
Safety response and detonation
Out of an abundance of caution, authorities left the device undisturbed at the airport and called in the Riverside County EOD team. After confirming the round was live, EOD personnel removed it from the airport and transported it to a remote desert area south of Interstate 10, off Gene Autry Trail, where it was safely detonated. A short video shared on social media shows the controlled detonation; no injuries were reported.
Authorities detonate the explosive in a social media video.Credit: Palm Springs Police Department/Facebook
Legal and administrative follow-up
The Palm Springs Police Department detained the Marine during the investigation and later submitted the matter to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office to review whether it constitutes a violation of California Penal Code section 18710, which covers possession of destructive devices. The service member may also face administrative action by the Marine Corps and a potential civil penalty through the TSA. He was ultimately released into military custody.
Requests for comment were directed to TSA, the Marine Corps and the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.
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