Five-year-old Levi Zilka's toy story had an unfortunate end after a Transportation Safety Administration agent confiscated his Buzz Lightyear toy because it bore too much of a resemblance to a gun.
Zilka, of Pennsylvania, was returning from his first trip to Walt Disney World with his family when an airport security agent at the Fort Lauderdale airport spotted a Buzz Lightyear "flip grip" toy, which is a plastic grabber, reported FOX News. Security agents thought that the toy, which Zilka's uncle bought at the Orlando theme park, looked too much like a gun.
"We couldn't go on the plane yet because they said it looks too much like a gun and you can't bring guns on the plane," Levi Zilka told CBS' Wisconsin affiliate WWMT-TV.
COMMON SENSE LOST? Child's Buzz Lightyear toy taken by TSA in Ft. Lauderdale. https://t.co/lQa2sXbIf1 #Fox35 #GDO pic.twitter.com/b5tXDyKSIm
— Amy Kaufeldt (@Fox35Amy) November 20, 2015
Levi's father, David Zilka, said that his son was upset by the incident. "Once he realized what was happening, that they weren't giving his toy back, he immediately starts bawling, just tears streaming down his face and crying," he said.
TSA agents told the family that the toy could be checked, but the family had only brought carry-on luggage. The organization's current policy requires that "realistic replicas of firearms" be checked.
The agency released the following statement to CBS Philly regarding the incident: "TSA officers are charged with protecting passengers and making final judgments on which items are permitted on aircraft. In our review of this situation, the officer's decision complied with approved procedures. We recently reinforced that training on the procedures with every front line TSA officer. TSA officers have the discretion to deny passage of an item if they cannot definitively rule out that the item could be used as a weapon, or perceived to be a weapon, including replica weapons."
The Zilka family says that while they understand the need for heightened airport security, the confiscation was unnecessary and Levi was not treated fairly.
"We understand that things are scary out there right now but taking a toy from a five year old doesn't enhance national security," David said.
The agency said that it is looking into the incident.
