Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Man Tries Sneaking Knife On Plane By Stashing It In Prohibited Mayonnaise Jar
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 3, 2012
Modified Apr 3, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 3, 2012
Modified Apr 3, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday a man tried to smuggle a knife onto a flight from JFK to Mexico City—and he might have gotten away with it too had he not decided to hide it inside another item he wasn't allowed to have. The TSA says the unidentified knife-wielder desperately wanted to bring his precious Leatherman blade aboard the plane. But the uptight TSA rules prohibit these sort of shenanigans! So why not sneak it aboard inside a big full jar of mayonnaise? That plan's a Swiss watch.
In a press release announcing the incident, the TSA lets its hair down a little and cheekily observes that the man "ended up eating his sandwich dry when both the knife and mayo were surrendered at the checkpoint. Okay, so he didn’t really have a sandwich with him. But he had enough mayonnaise for a month of sandwiches." Hey-o! Fact is, liquids and gelatinous stuff like mayo have to be in a 3.4-ounce or smaller container. “The mayonnaise jar was larger than that, so ironically he was trying to smuggle a prohibited item inside of another prohibited item,” Farbstein tells CBS 2.
Port Authority police confiscated the knife and the delicious oil and egg yolk emulsion, but let the man proceed on his way to Mexico City. Upon arrival, he was greeted by a hungry family with loaves of unsliced bread and a big tub of egg salad just waiting for one. crucial. ingredient.
Tagged
jfk airport
knives
mayo
security theater
tsa
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .