On Thursday, a family identified as being from the United States caused panic at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv when they attempted to board a plane with an unexploded bomb.
One of the family's children had reportedly found the unexploded artillery shell while visiting the Golan Heights and packed it, thinking it would make for a great souvenir.
Israel: Bomb scare at airport after US family pack unexploded shell to take home as 'souvenir'https://news.sky.com/story/israel-bomb-scare-at-airport-after-us-family-pack-unexploded-shell-to-take-home-as-souvenir-12601317\u00a0\u2026— Sky News (@Sky News) 1651211263
According to local authorities, pandemonium at the airport was triggered when the family showed the unexploded shell to airport security while checking in their luggage.
You can see travelers panicking and taking cover at the departure hall in the clip, below.
\u201cUgly Americans\u201d: An American family caused this chaos at Ben Gurion airport after one of the children found an unexploded bomb on their vacation in northern Israel, and they decided to pack it up in their luggage and take it home.pic.twitter.com/YbROXl47gw— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1651244108
Officials immediately called for an evacuation, and the chaotic scene resulted in one man being taken to the hospital for injuries after he tried to flee over the baggage carousel and fell in the midst of the chaos.
Twitter had plenty to say in response to watching the video.
What could go wrong?— HaStaBu (@HaStaBu) 1651304337
Unbelievable— \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83d\udc36 \ud83c\udfbe \u2600\ufe0f\ud83c\udf34 JAG (@\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83d\udc36 \ud83c\udfbe \u2600\ufe0f\ud83c\udf34 JAG) 1651244376
Ugly and moronic. It's a miracle that the device did not go off the moment it was FIRST TOUCHED.— Snakebite (@Snakebite) 1651254298
Imagine the world\u2019s response if it\u2019s an Arab family— FJ Indra \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8 (@FJ Indra \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8) 1651274349
Just American, thinking they found a relic from the Holy Land.— Kherubim, salutes those who plant \ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddec (@Kherubim, salutes those who plant \ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddec) 1651253252
If their stupid meter is measured by how loud on a guitar amp, this would be a Spinal Tap 11.— Zacroix \u30b6\u30af\u30c3\u30e9\u30af\u30b9 (@Zacroix \u30b6\u30af\u30c3\u30e9\u30af\u30b9) 1651253710
An American tourist you say\u2026pic.twitter.com/otz2fz0Q5c— SwineLikePutin&Trump \u2014 long live \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa (@SwineLikePutin&Trump \u2014 long live \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa) 1651244064
keep them, we don't want them. we you have our permission to arrest them.— Trixie (@Trixie) 1651247361
TX, FL, or AZ .— AJ (@AJ) 1651244110
Users had plenty to say about the family's intelligence level.
People really can be profoundly stupid.— Rebel \ud83d\udc31\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6, Roxie & Pebbles \ud83d\udc36\ud83c\udf08 (@Rebel \ud83d\udc31\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6, Roxie & Pebbles \ud83d\udc36\ud83c\udf08) 1651244328
How stupid can people be? Jeez.— Cherie Winner \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Cherie Winner \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1651244723
Must have seemed like a good idea at the time\u2026— Darren (@Darren) 1651267566
The Jewish Press reported that a bomb squad was called to the scene, and the alert was eventually called off.
Airport staff said the family was able to board their flight after they were questioned by security.