TSA Halts 'Chewbacca' Over 'Lightsaber'

Peter Mayhew's lightsaber-shaped cane causes brief uproar
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 10, 2013 2:56 PM CDT
TSA Halts 'Chewbacca' Over 'Lightsaber'
Peter Mayhew tweeted this picture of his cane.   (Twitter)

The latest TSA brouhaha is more amusing than enraging: Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in the Star Wars films, was stopped last week because agents didn't like the looks of his cane ... probably because it looks like a lightsaber. The 69-year-old, 7-foot-2-inch actor tweeted about the incident, and says it's thanks to Twitter that his cane/lightsaber was eventually released to him, CNN reports.

TSA's statement on the matter: "Because of the unusual weight of the passenger's cane, a security officer alerted a supervisor. Less than five minutes later, the passenger and cane were cleared to travel." Amusingly enough, TSA actually does address the issue of lightsabers on its prohibited items list: "Sadly, the technology doesn't currently exist to create a real light saber. However, you can pack a toy light saber in your carry-on or checked bag. May the force be with you." (More Peter Mayhew stories.)

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