The Meme Travel Account Run by TSA

All the stories on this Instagram account, told by the TSA across the United States, sound strikingly similar to the “A Florida Man caught ______” stories on the news. 

Think of the most obvious thing you cannot bring on a commercial plane — or example, a lobster — and this Instagram account will show you someone has tried. Seriously… look…. 

A lobster is not TSA’s main target item in comparison to weapons or drugs, so they try to bring light to the fact that some people take time out of their day to search and seize individuals with the most peculiar items. (Keep in mind, this will only delay fellow travelers, it will not decrease any safety measures.) 

Bob Burns started this Instagram account in 2013. He unfortunately passed away in 2018. He passed the throne to another fellow TSA agent, Janis Burl, who has not disappointed their one million followers.  

Rolling Stone Magazine ranked @tsa the fourth best Instagram account, preceding @beyonce and @nasa. 

Burns said, “I think the reason for the success is not only the humor but also the shock value of coming to a government-run blog and seeing the stuff we’re finding and the approach we’re taking to communicate about it. Yeah, you’re being funny, but it’s actually funnier because it’s coming from a government agency.”

A lack of common sense was not the only motive that brought unusual items through their conveyer belt. Filmmakers for the “Texas Chain Massacre 2” movie brought a prop mummy which looked extremely realistic along with them. This must’ve turned many heads.

Pure ignorance brought very unusual items through their conveyor belt as well, but Burns shared with CNBC in 2018 that they were too explicit to share on the Instagram account. 

May we be grateful for the safety that TSA brings to our country, but also grateful for the dad joke memes that they provide us. 

Join us at @theedgemag and follow @tsa on Instagram.