25-07-2025
TSA Staff in Disbelief at What Passenger Leaves Behind at Security
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) have shared a call out on social media after a passenger left behind an entire tray of their belongings while going through airport security.
And one item in particular stood out. In the security tray alongside personal items and even a luxury bag was a Labubu collectible,
In a post on Threads, TSA said: "Paging the passenger who forgot literally their entire tray of items at security, your labubu is looking at us weird plz come get it immediately. Thank you."
The post, shared on Wednesday, racked up thousands of likes and hundreds of comments on Threads where people were stunned to see the items left behind at the airport.
"How does someone leave their entire tray of stuff?" asked one commenter. While another wrote: "Digital camera and LV bag? What decade is this? If it weren't for the Labubu I would think this photo was from 2008."
A picture of the items left behind in the tray at the TSA checkpoint.
A picture of the items left behind in the tray at the TSA checkpoint.
TSA/Threads
Labubu, created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung and produced by POPMART, has exploded from underground art darling to global pop culture icon in the last year.
Distributed primarily in "blind boxes," Labubu figures have become cult favorites, appearing in the hands of celebrities like Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, and David Beckham. The high-fashion market has even embraced the plush toys, with figures appearing on high-end Hermès Birkin bags and in the pages of Vogue magazine.
According to official TSA data, approximately 90,000 to 100,000 items are left behind each month at security checkpoints across the U.S. That equates to over 1 million items every year, ranging from mundane toiletries and electronics to valuable jewelry, and, apparently even valuable toys like the Labubu.
It isn't just items that get left behind either. In 2023, TSA agents reported collecting over $956,253 in forgotten coins and bills, nearly double the amount recorded in 2012. The agency is legally permitted to retain this unclaimed cash, which is then put toward aviation security programs and contributes to the federal treasury.
And it's not the first time a TSA checkpoint incident has sparked attention. Last year security pulled a suspicious bag at the airport only to be stunned by the contents—a bag full to the brim of canned cooked pork.
While another woman was stopped for having an entire rotisserie chicken in her bag to eat on the flight, confusing both agents and the internet.
While previous TSA posts have shared unusual things found in people's luggage, including a weapon disguised as a marker pen and a stun gun that looked just like an iPhone.
