Flyer Beware! Gun Case Sabotage (?) on ATL to CPT flight

Wooster

Wooster

AH veteran
Joined
Feb 2, 2021
Messages
109
Reaction score
468
Media
9
Member of
DSC, RMEF, MDF, BHA
Hunted
USA (AK, CO, NM, WY, MT, TX, OK, KS, HI), Canada (Yukon), South Africa (East Cape, KZN), Namibia (Kalahari, Kaokoland, Caprivi, Waterberg Plateau), Botswana, New Zealand (South Island), Scottish Highlands, Argentina
Just a heads up. When my Pelican case arrived at CPT from my July 4 flight from ATL all four latches were unlatched, which has never happened in over 15 international trips, and the case was held shut just by the four padlocks through the lock holes. I assumed unusually rough handling. I opened the case at the firearms counter and felt dampness on the inside foam and suspected some condensation must have occurred on the flight over. But didn't fret over it. Later upon closer inspection all three foam pieces were completely soaked and a large amount of water was pooled underneath the foam. Rust had already formed on certain metal parts on my shotgun and rifle. All in camp believe there is no way that much condensation could have accumulated on the flight over, and that someone must have intentionally poured water into the case through the crack created by the open latches. Wondering if anyone has ever experienced or heard of a similar episode or has an alternate explanation other than malevolent behavior. Flyer beware!
 
Yikes man, that’s terrible. I’ve had two of my four pelican latches not closed after a U.S. airport tsa inspection where I was not present but fortunately it was only a short flight. Otherwise never personally had that happen nor have I heard of anyone else experience that. I agree it sounds suspect!
 
I’ve made it a habit of slipping zip ties through gun cases, hunting gear, luggage. Yes they can be cut, but they are an added obstacle for bad guys. Sorry to hear about your troubles.
 
Simular problem in ATL a few yrs back. Thought they left mine on the tarmac in the rain. I happened to be there again this 4th. There was rain in the area at times. Something wrong there though. I had simular odd wet case and also missing items in my checked bag. All stuff that could be worn out of there.
 
Related tip... be sure the airlines Firearms declaration is not laying on a stock. I had carelessly just thrown it in the case. When moisture got in my case, something about that orange slip acted like acid to mess up the stock it was laying on. I fixed the finish but have been careful not to lay that slip on any stocks again.
 
This is exactly why I duct tape around my Pelican gun case over each of four latches. A warning though. A certain security gal at Joberg has a thing for colored duct tape. Don't try to bring it in carryon. She put it in her lunch bag/purse right front of me. Put the tape in checked bag after gun case inspected. WD40 is great for removing duct tape residue.
 
Caution though... my experience happened after we closed it up in customs at ATL. I was on my way back through ATL. Everthing was fine at customs there. Someone got at the stuff after it left customs and went into the bowls of that place. It came off the line in Denver in front of a Delta agent I was standing by. She saw it. They were good enough to comp the missing items and I took care of my stock.
 
They have been pretty responsive, but you have to prove it. It’s easy to show a receipt to show that you purchased the item, but how do you prove you didn’t already lose or sell them? Or prove that they were even with you on the trip? That’s impossible. We aren’t done yet, so I’m not saying they won’t do anything. Just haven’t as of now.

And yes, I do know better. I should have never stuffed them in there. I had them on the plane with me on the ride there, I just got lazy and was shedding weight out of my backpack on the ride back.
 
With all Australian flights, and IIRC all of my NZ flights, the gun cases are sealed with Airline tape at check in. Whilst I realise that won’t stop anyone from opening it…. it’s a pretty good deterrent for malicious people.

I stopped using combination locks, on gun cases, years ago….as I know that my gun case was opened in the USA without my presence or me having provided the combination. No, they were not TSA locks on the gun case.

The below photo was taken about a month ago in Sydney whilst I was transferring from domestic to international.

IMG_2240.jpeg
 
One thing i find annoying AF. Is delta zip ties your case before giving it back to you. Like bitch if i was going to shoot the place id have done it on way in.

I find it annoying because i check my items before leaving airport that way theres a record of any issues but its a oita to remove zip ties in tge baggage claim.
 
1r4rc said:
Simular problem in ATL a few yrs back. Thought they left mine on the tarmac in the rain. I happened to be there again this 4th. There was rain in the area at times. Something wrong there though. I had simular odd wet case and also missing items in my checked bag. All stuff that could be worn out of there.
Click to expand...
You're right. There was a hard downpour that caused a ground stop for a period of time. Hadn't recalled that till you mentioned it. That could explain the water inside. But still scratching my head on how all 4 latches would have come undone.
 
Never any issues with weapons but one year I had a CBP agent pull me to the side and ask if I had been hunting and if so where were my boots. I explained to him that I slipped them in my dad’s bag (who had already gone through customs ahead of me, bc it kept my bag from going over weight. He demanded I call him and have him bring them to him for inspection. I refused. It got kinda heated and finally ended after he said it was mandatory to swab my boots bc they had touched African soil. I told him “ dumbass everybody’s shoes on our plane touched African soil and asked him if he needed to swab my crocs I was wearing bc they touched African soils too. He hung his head and said no and let me go”
 
Turkeycreekarchery said:
Never any issues with weapons but one year I had a CBP agent pull me to the side and ask if I had been hunting and if so where were my boots. I explained to him that I slipped them in my dad’s bag (who had already gone through customs ahead of me, bc it kept my bag from going over weight. He demanded I call him and have him bring them to him for inspection. I refused. It got kinda heated and finally ended after he said it was mandatory to swab my boots bc they had touched African soil. I told him “ dumbass everybody’s shoes on our plane touched African soil and asked him if he needed to swab my crocs I was wearing bc they touched African soils too. He hung his head and said no and let me go”
Click to expand...
Depending on where you land they care way more about the boots than guns.

Land in DFW from Argentina I’ve had them not even open the case to look at guns but they scrubbed my boots with a tooth brush. Worried about hoof and mouth.

Same thing at LA. They care way more about fruit than anything else coming in.
 
Russ16 said:
Depending on where you land they care way more about the boots than guns.

Land in DFW from Argentina I’ve had them not even open the case to look at guns but they scrubbed my boots with a tooth brush. Worried about hoof and mouth.

Same thing at LA. They care way more about fruit than anything else coming in.
Click to expand...
LA already has plenty of them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

... and 1043 more.
Total: 350,670 (members: 1,093, guests: 349,577)

Forum statistics

Threads
69,261
Messages
1,543,567
Members
160,605
Latest member
theslotonlinecom
 

 

 

Proudly sponsored by

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

curt672
curt672 wrote on WoodencrossIII's profile.
just making sure my message went threw
•••
30-06Ken
30-06Ken wrote on ftothfadd's profile.
I'll take the Vortex scope cover you have listed in the Pay it Forward thread.

Ken [redacted]
•••
Scott CWO
Scott CWO wrote on mark-hunter's profile.
Hi Mark. My email is [redacted]
•••
T
TheRookie
Selling real estate in dchum’s head
•••
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
getting some work done in-between hunts!

•••

Share this page

 
Top