That awkward moment when airport security finds a giant lobster in someone’s luggage

Security services at Boston’s Logan International airport are trained to spot contraband in passenger luggage – everything from sharp objects to drugs – which is probably why the discovery of a 9kg live lobster came as a bit of a surprise.

Michael McCarthy, a spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration, says the lobster found on Sunday in a passenger’s checked luggage is the largest he’s ever seen. Judging from the picture, this statement probably shocks no one.

The TSA website says a live lobster is allowed through security but must be transported in a “clear, plastic, spill-proof container”.

However, the problem with this particular lobster was that it was snug in a cooler bag instead of a clear, plastic container. Luckily, McCarthy says it “cooperated quite nicely with the screening process”.

McCarthy posted the picture of his new buddy the lobster on Twitter, and people have a lot of questions and thoughts about it.

— ☤ δ ☤ (@SheliSkai) June 27, 2017

— Ari Ofsevit (@ofsevit) June 26, 2017

— Arturo (@arturot) June 26, 2017

And then things got dark.

— Tony Schroeder (@schroedertony) June 26, 2017

— John Paysor (@JohnPaysor) June 27, 2017

— Eric (@photomonarch71) June 27, 2017

But don’t worry, because these darker comments were qualified by some terrible jokes.

… I'll show myself out.

— Ryan Douglas (@DryFlyRyan) June 27, 2017

— Michael (@bzztpff) June 27, 2017

No word yet as to the lobster’s final destination.