Turtle meets grim fate after Florida woman attempts to smuggle creature through airport TSA inside her bra
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Miami International Airport made the shocking discovery during a routine security screening where they found two live turtles stuffed inside a traveler's bra.
The unnamed woman was allegedly attempting to fly out of Miami airport but she was caught red-handed when TSA agent cracked her shell of a plan.
Tragically, one of the animals did not survive the ordeal.
The surviving turtle was handed over to the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife, which is now caring for the creature.
In a now-viral Facebook post, TSA shared the unique story and reminded passengers that while pets are allowed to travel, there are strict guidelines in place.
'OK friends, please - and we cannot emphasize this enough - stop hiding animals in weird places on your body and then trying to sneak them through airport security,' TSA urged in the post.
'No, really,' the post continued.
'A Florida woman traveling out of Miami International Airport (MIA) recently attempted to take a pair of turtles through our checkpoint, and the turtles were stuffed inside… yes, you guessed it… her brassiere.'
TSA Officials blasted the irresponsible pet owner for her reckless stunt in the pun-filled post.
'We want you to be able to travel with your pets, and you turtle-ly can, but please travel with them safely.'
'You can start by reaching out to your airline for their rules concerning pets on board flights.'
The officials reminded passengers of basic rules when traveling with pets - emphasizing that all small pets must be carried through security checkpoint, not concealed under a shirt.
'As far as TSA screening goes, small pets are allowed through our checkpoint but must be removed from any carriers and carried through the checkpoint (notice we said 'carried' and not 'hidden underneath your clothing').'
'Sadly, for this MIA traveler, one of the turtles didn't survive. The surviving turtle was turned over to the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife, and we're thankful for their partnership throughout this incident.'
The TSA officials did not release the name of the passenger responsible, nor did they provide the the motive behind her actions.
It's unclear at this point whether she will face any criminal charges.
The post was met with mixed reactions - with some users outraged by the woman's mishandling of the animals and others shocked by the absurdity of the story.
'Hiding it her bra was not the first place I thought she would hid it. LOL,' one user commented.
Another wrote: 'Only in Florida.'
But others demanded that the woman face serious consequences.
'So what are her consequences? Any? Or does she just get told don't do that again,' one user commented.
In a now-viral Facebook post, TSA shared the unique story and reminded passengers that while pets are allowed to travel, there are strict guidelines in place
This isn't the first surprise for TSA agents - who regularly encounter wild smuggling attempts - sometimes involving much larger animals.
In 2023, TSA agents in Florida found a four-foot boa constrictor in a woman's carry-on bag after her suitcase was passed through an X-ray machine.
The woman told agents at Tampa International Airport that the snake was 'an emotional support pet,' a TSA spokesperson said at the time.
The TSA released X-ray images of the snake on Friday. The images showed the animal curled up in the corner of a tray next to ordinary items such as sneakers, a belt, and a laptop.
The agency says it notified the airline which confirmed that it would not allow the snake in the plane's cabin. The TSA said snakes are never allowed to travel in carry-on luggage and only on some airlines can they be checked-in.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
'Loving mom' suffers horrific tragedy while enjoying daughter's softball game under shady tree
A 'loving mom' from Pennsylvania was killed in a freak accident while enjoying her daughter's softball game last week. Gendie Miller, 49, and her husband Bill were rooting for their 16-year-old daughter Marlee on Wednesday when they decided to get out of the 90-degree heat and sit under a tree, WPXI reports. As the teen was working on her drills just before 7pm, Bill said he heard a cracking sound that jolted him from his seat. 'I said to my wife, "Let's go,"' he recounted to WTAE. 'I jumped out of my chair, felt a small branch of some sort that grazed my leg. And I immediately turned to my right to look back at her and she was lying face down with large, multiple branches and limbs.' Gendie had apparently been struck in the head by one of the branches, which Bill said were between 10 to 12 inches thick. Good Samaritans immediately ran over to help remove the branches off of her limp body, Bill said, but the damage was too severe. She died on her way to the local hospital. 'With the heavy load of the type of branch and limb, it was devastating,' the grieving husband said. 'And I can tell you that she didn't die from her heart, because her heart was too big.' He explained that his wife of 17 years was known for her kind spirit, as well as her love for their travel softball family in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. 'She would never miss a practice or an event, high school, travel ball, wherever it was,' Bill said. 'That was who she was.' Family friend Luka Bompiani also described Gendie as 'such a loving woman, caring woman and a mother who lived for her daughter. 'And she put everything she had into Marlee and everything she had into Bill,' he said. 'It's just sad.' In a statement, Sheri Burdett, the District 9 USA Softball of Pennsylvania commissioner, said she was 'deeply saddened to learn of the tragic situation that occurred before the start of our tournament.' 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the Miller family during this incredibly difficult time,' she said. 'At this moment, our sole focus is on supporting them in any way we can.' McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko also said his 'thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time. 'An evening that started like any other, with families and friends gathered in the park for a game, has ended in tragedy after this horrible accident.' Bill said he remains in shock about what happened, while their teenage daughter is 'being very strong.' Still, community members are rallying around the family, with one of Marlee's coaches on her Nitro Fastpitch team setting up an online fundraiser to help Bill with the expenses related to his wife's untimely passing. 'Between medical/ambulance bills, funeral items and initial lost wages, Bill and Marlee could use all the hope they can get,' Michael Mull writes in the GoFundMe, which had already raised nearly $48,000 for the family as of Sunday. 'Although it doesn't bring back their loved one, it takes a bit of the burden off of coming up with funds they don't have right now for something so unexpected.' 'You never know when your time comes and this was such a freak accident that they definitely need the community support around them,' added Bompiani. Yet the family friend expressed his hope that the family will be OK. He noted that he had spoken with Bill on Friday, when the softball coach told him Marlee looked up at him earlier that day and said, 'Hey dad, we got this. We're gonna get through this, we got this together.' 'When I heard that [it] just brought tears to my eyes,' Bompiani said.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
White House in 'full-bore panic mode' over Epstein files and FBI 'breaking at the seams'
President Trump is reportedly furious over the botched handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files as The White House launches into 'full-bore panic mode' in a desperate attempt to change the subject. The Justice Department and FBI have come under fire as they scramble to end the ongoing fallout after Attorney General Pam Bondi's so-called 'communications failure' snowballed into a crisis. Trump is now fuming about the inconsistent Epstein narratives emerging from Washington D.C. as the saga continues to dominate headlines. 'This is a pretty substantial distraction,' a White House source told The Washington Post, citing 'nearly a dozen people close to the situation.' 'While many are trying to keep the unity, in many ways, the DOJ and the FBI are breaking at the seams. Many are wondering how sustainable this is going to be for all the parties involved - be it the FBI director or attorney general.' Any attempts by Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to tamp down the rampant speculation about Epstein have only fueled more conspiracy theories and negative attention. 'They completely miscalculated the fever pitch to which they built this up,' Stephen A. Saltzburg, a former Justice Department official told the Post. 'Now, they seem to be in full-bore panic mode, trying to change the subject and flailing in an effort to make sense of what makes no sense.' But Trump is refusing to make the one move that could silence his critics and reset the narrative. 'He does not want to create a bigger spectacle by firing anyone,' the source told the Post. So Bondi, Patel and FBI deputy director Dan Bongino continue their fruitless campaign to end the speculation around the death of one of the most infamous billionaire of the 21st century. The release of security footage from outside Epstein's jail cell from the night he took his own life - an attempt to stop conspiracy theories that he was murdered - was Patel and Bongino's idea, multiple sources revealed. However, the video missing three minutes of footage from that night made things worse. Both are now privately upset that they haven't been able to release more of the Epstein files with Bongino on the verge of quitting as all three play the blame game with one another. Bongino's frustration came to a head in a stunning post to X over the weekend, revealing he has discovered matters that have 'shocked me down to my core' during his time in office. He shared a cryptic message to his social media in which he vowed to uncover 'the truth' amid mounting criticism of his handling of the Epstein files. Bongino added: 'We cannot run a Republic like this. I'll never be the same after learning what I've learned. A source inside the DOJ told Daily Mail that Bongino was ready to stand down if Attorney General Pam Bondi didn't. Todd Blanche, the president's former attorney and now Bondi's second in command at the DOJ, denied any beef between his department and the FBI in a statement. 'The suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and DOJ leadership on this memo's composition and release is patently false,' he said. The fallout of that memo continues, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that Bondi told Trump in May that his name appeared in the Epstein files. Trump on Friday denied ever being briefed by Attorney General Pam Bondi that his name was in the files. 'No, I was never briefed. No,' he told reporters after he landed in Scotland to visit his golf courses. But Bondi briefed Trump during a May 2025 meeting that his name was found in the Epstein documents 'multiple times,' according to reports. Other high-profile individuals are also named in the investigation about Epstein's sex crimes. Just because the president is named in the files does not implicate him in any wrongdoing or connect him to Epstein's child sex trafficking crimes. Patel and Dan Bongino (pictured) are now privately upset that they haven't been able to release more of the Epstein files with Bongino on the verge of quitting as all three play the blame game with one another Todd Blanche (pictured), the president's former attorney and now Bondi's second in command at the DOJ, denied any beef between his department and the FBI The Wall Street Journal originally broke the news of Bondi's briefing to Trump. The Justice Department told the news outlet that Trump was made aware of the findings of the Epstein files as part of the 'routine briefing.' Bondi also allegedly acknowledged that the administration should withhold the files due to them containing images of child sexual abuse Blanche reportedly said that nothing was found in the files that would mandate an additional investigation - or even prosecution. 'As part of our routine briefing, we made the president aware of the findings,' they told the Journal. White House communications director Steven Cheung slammed the report as 'fake news' in a statement to the Daily Mail. 'The fact is that the president kicked him out of his club for being a creep. This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media, just like the Obama Russiagate scandal, which President Trump was right about,' he said when the report came out earlier this week. But, try as he might, Trump cannot move on from questions about Epstein, who died in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting charges related to sex crimes. His death, ruled to be a suicide, sparked endless conspiracy theories that questioned how he may have really died and who among the rich and powerful would have benefitted from it. The president associated with Epstein and British socialite Maxwell in the 1980s and 1990s. Epstein's right-hand woman and former lover Ghislaine Maxwell was questioned this week by Deputy Attorney General Blanche. She is serving 20 years behind bars for his involvement in Epstein's crimes. The 63-year-old made it clear earlier this month that she was willing to speak in front of Congress about the case. Maxwell appears to be angling for a pardon from the president after she 'didn't hold back' during secret questioning session. Her attorney David Oscar Markus claimed that she spoke with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche about '100 different people' related to Epstein's child sex trafficking ring. 'They asked about every possible thing you could imagine – everything,' Markus told reporters. He also said Maxwell is being used as the 'scapegoat' in the entire Epstein case and has been 'treated unfairly for the last five years.' Her attorney said that they had not put in a formal request with the White House for a pardon for Maxwell following the conclusion of Day 2 of questioning. But Markus didn't rule out taking that action in the future, saying 'things are happening so quickly.' 'The president said earlier he has the power to do so, we hope he exercises that power in the right way,' he said of a potential commutation. Trump refused to rule out invoking his presidential pardon powers for Maxwell when asked on Friday morning. 'I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I haven't thought about,' he said. But, asked again about the matter later Friday, Trump, meanwhile, declined to talk about Maxwell and said 'this is no time to be talking about pardons.' 'I really have nothing to say about it. She is being talked to by a very smart man, a very good man, Todd Blanche. And I don't know anything about the conversation. I haven't really been following it,' he said. 'A lot of people are asking me about pardons. This is no time to be talking about pardons,' he added. Meanwhile, over the course of two days, Maxwell and her attorney have spent more than nine hours answering Blanche's questions. It's not clear when or if the DOJ will release what was learned in the meetings. Markus said Maxwell is grateful to have had the chance to sit-down with Blanche. 'This was the first opportunity she's ever been given to answer questions about what happened,' Markus said. 'The truth will come out about what happened with Mr. Epstein and she's the person whose answering those questions.' A growing fringe effort to get Trump to pardon Maxwell has unfolded after the Justice Department rejected her effort to have her conviction on child sex trafficking charges thrown out. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors. She was convicted in 2021 on five counts related to sex trafficking and conspiracy. It's unclear what she can reveal that isn't already public and the closed-door meeting is fueling skepticism over the handling of the Epstein files review. Maxwell is also on the books to testify before Congress from prison on August 11.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Shocking moment federal air marshals 'stormed the cockpit' of Delta flight and arrested co-pilot
Federal authorities could be seen storming the cockpit of a Delta Airlines flight in San Francisco before they placed the co-pilot in handcuffs and led him off the flight. The federal agents entered Flight 2809 from Minneapolis shortly after it landed at the San Francisco International Airport at around 9.35pm on Saturday. They were filmed donning plainclothes and wearing law enforcement badges around their necks. Their faces were cropped out in video shared online. But passengers said the group of 10 officers included agents from Homeland Security Investigations and others who identified as federal air marshals, KTLA reports. 'A group of people with badges, guns and different agency vests/markings were pushing their way through the aisle to the cockpit,' a passenger who was sitting in first class told the San Francisco Chronicle. She went on to explain that the officers 'stormed the cockpit, cuffed the pilot, arrested him, walked him down the aisle and ushered him off the plane through the cabin doors located between first and coach.' Soon after, a second team of agents returned to the plane to collect the unidentified co-pilot's personal belongings. Authorities did not immediately reveal why the co-pilot was apprehended. But Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin cited a senior federal official who claims the co-pilot was taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations on allegations involving child sexual abuse materials. The arrest seemed to shock even those who worked on the flight. Video shared online showed federal agents in plainclothes wearing badges around their necks entering Flight 2809 from Minneapolis shortly after it landed at the San Francisco International Airport at around 9.35pm on Saturday. The officers then arrested the co-pilot of the flight 🚨 BREAKING: A Delta pilot was arrested by HSI (Homeland Security) on CSAM charges. — Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) July 27, 2025 The remaining pilot said he had no idea what was happening, View from the Wing reports, and a passenger on the flight recounted asking a member of the flight crew what was happening. 'I looked at him and said "What's going on?" He said, "I have no idea,"' the passenger told Fox 9. 'And he genuinely looked like this was a surprise, that all of a sudden there was people on the plane, because he had us stand up, we were starting to take our stuff out for arrival and everybody was already in the overhead bin.' The passenger who spoke to the Chronicle ultimately called the experience 'shocking and unnerving,' noting that those on board received no information from the crew about what had occurred.
