The replica of the Monkey Bomb from Call of Duty was confiscated by TSA officers at the Boston Logan Airport after it was found stowed in a passenger’s luggage. The prop, which was made to resemble the cymbal-clapping explosive toy used in the Zombies mode of the game, was thought to be a genuine threat due to its detailed build. Even though it had no explosives in it and was not an actual improvised explosive device, the TSA treated it as one and alerted the Massachusetts State Police. Finally, all this turned out to be just a wholesome toy.

The event has stirred controversy and backlash online from fans who assert that the Monkey Bomb clearly appears like a game prop and not a real bomb. Some wondered whether TSA had gone overboard by confiscating a fictional toy that was sealed in checked baggage.

However, TSA policy is clear: Replica explosives, however unrealistic or jolly they may seem, are prohibited in both checked-in and carry-on luggage. The logic behind it is related to safety and the possibility of shutting down the airports or unwarranted panic. Although fans may perceive the Monkey Bomb as non-threatening, TSA’s attention is still on avoiding whatever can be misconstrued as a weapon getting on a flight. Travelers are warned not to take such collectibles with them or send them along.

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