Passengers on board a Southwest Airlines flight at Houston’s Hobby Airport had to be deplaned and re-screened after a taser was found.
A crew member on Southwest Flight 28 to Dallas Love Field discovered a civilian‑model taser before takeoff, a law enforcement source told KPRC 2. These legal, non-lethal self-defense devices fire two small probes with compressed nitrogen, giving a quick shock that can temporarily disable an attacker.
The pilot immediately deplaned passengers and contacted TSA, which conducted full security screenings of travelers and their carry-on bags. Houston Airport System staff and law enforcement escorted passengers through the terminals during the process.
After the additional checks, all passengers were allowed to re-board, and the flight departed about two and a half hours later.
“Due to a potential security concern, the decision was made to re-screen the Passengers on Southwest Flight 28 from Houston to Dallas on Tuesday,” a Southwest spokesperson told The Independent. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees.”
Travelers reported further screenings upon arrival in Dallas, where authorities verified IDs and inspected carry-on luggage before connecting flights.
Law enforcement confirmed the taser did not belong to a Southwest crew member or any officer, the source told KPRC 2. Southwest also deferred any request for additional details to TSA and law enforcement.
The Independent has contacted TSA and the Hobby Airport Police Division for comment.
The Houston taser incident is the latest in a string of airline security issues in recent months. In February, a Delta flight from Hobby Airport was forced to turn back shortly after takeoff when a passenger became violent and attempted to approach the cockpit, forcing other travelers restraining him.
Southwest Airlines has faced its own disruptions, including a flight diverted to Atlanta earlier this month over a passenger-related security concern involving a phone timer, while a passenger was also arrested for assaulting an off-duty federal officer midflight between Miami and Denver.
Airport operations have been affected by a Department of Homeland Security funding lapse, leaving TSA officers working without pay. During parts of the busy spring break travel period, more than half of the scheduled TSA screeners at Hobby called out, resulting in security lines exceeding two hours.
The FAA declined KPRC 2’s request for comment on the situation saying, “The FAA is a safety regulator, not a security agency.”
The Independent has contacted the FAA for comment.
Louisiana's alligator farms raise the reptiles for meat, skins — and conservation
US weather to go nuts with blizzard, polar vortex, heat dome, atmospheric river all at once
Texas woman accuses Elon Musk of being ‘negligent’ in lawsuit after Cybertruck crash
Melania describes herself as a ‘visionary’ during Women’s History Month event
Officials trying to discredit links between general’s disappearance and his UFO work
Pope Leo takes a veiled swipe at Trump over Iran war: ‘Go to confession’
