Note to the TSA: Don't have it, it isn't wise to mess with a wookiee and lightsabers

[Darth Avlectus]

http://www.dbtechno.com/curiosity/2013/06/09/chewbacca-tsa-battle-over-light-saber-cane-photo/

 

 

Peter Mayhew — known for playing Chewbacca in the "Star Wars" films — challenged a different sort of Galactic Empire at the Denver Airport on June 3, and walked away with his lightsaber cane in hand.

 

While passing through the airport after attending Denver Comic Con, the 7-foot-2-inch actor tweeted a picture of Transportation Security Administration agents holding the cane, which looks like a Star Wars lightsaber. According to Yahoo, the 69-year-old actor tweeted that TSA wouldn't allow him through with his cane and asked for retweets to spread the word.

 

"Giant man need giant cane... small cane snap like toothpick... besides... my light saber cane is just cool... I would miss it..." Mayhew tweeted.

 

Mayhew later tweeted that TSA decided to let the lightsaber can go through, and that the magic words to TSA were not "please" or "thank you," but rather, "Twitter."

 

The encounter naturally spawned a host of Star Wars jokes on Twitter at the time.

 

"TSA just learned Star Wars lesson #1," astronomer Ray Sanders tweeted. "Let the Wookie win."

 

Or perhaps, more fitting in this situation, the advice would be, "Let the Wookie fly," @imac76 suggested.

 

When American Airlines checked in on the actor after the incident, Mayhew assured them it was entirely TSA's fault and thanked the airline for its concern, saying it is "a class act."

 

"That and they didn't want their arms ripped off by a wookie," @GreatDaneUJ weighed in.

 

"It's not wise to upset a Wookie," @Fractal_Pattern tweeted.

 

"Chewie hijacks plane with light saber takes passengers to Kashyyyk. Story tonight at 10!" @TheDorkyShane tweeted.

 

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http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765631686/TSA-has-a-problem-with-Chewbacca-actors-cane-learns-to-let-the-Wookie-win.html

 

Chewbacca Detained by TSA

 

While on his way through the Denver airport, Peter Mayhew, 69, best known as the actor who played Chewbacca from “Star Wars,” was detained by TSA trying to get through airport security. Apparently, Mayhew’s light saber looking walking cane caused alarm to security officers and he was told that he couldn’t bring the item onboard.

 

Although unable to walk without the help of a cane, no amount of begging or explaining on Mayhew’s part could make the security officials budge. However, starting to Tweet seemed to do the trick. Sitting in a wheelchair, Mayhew started posting to his Twitter account from his phone. Almost as soon as Mayhew began Tweeting that TSA wouldn’t let him through with his walking cane, security officials returned his saber stick. Mayhew posted multiple pictures of the incident portraying the officials holding his cane along with captions reading that the TSA “won’t allow me through the airport with me cane.”

 

After security returned Mayhew’s light saber cane to him, he proceeded to his flight without incurring any further problems. Seemingly lighthearted about the whole occurrence, the 7’2 Mayhew later Tweeted, however, “giant man need giant cane, small cane snap like toothpick.”

 

“In Dallas. Thank you to @AmericanAir for checking on me. Problem was all @TSA. I’m a million-miler on American and they are a class act,” Mayhew wrote.

 

The actor also retweeted an astronomer who noted the sage advice of Han Solo in tough situations: TSA “Just learned Star Wars lesson #1: ‘Let the Wookie[e] Win.’”

 

Source:

 

Peter Mayhew detailed an incident where he said security initially wouldn’t allow him to take his “Star Wars”-style cane through the airport.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/chewbacca-actors-lightsaber-cane-causes-565011

 

Chewbacca Actor Battles TSA Over Light Saber Cane

http://www.nbcdfw.com/entertainment/the-scene/Chewbacca-Actor-Battles-TSA-Over-Light-Saber-Cane-210696861.html

 

Chewbacca TSA: ‘Chewie’ chews out TSA

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/chewie_chews_out_tsa_rSbgDHFvMb8WMVhVYuyxeO

 

Force of Twitter was with him! Famed Chewbacca actor gets light saber cane back from TSA after tweeting snap at airport security

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/security_light_twitter_saber_after_6N9tFUNvRXHL5iQmhb26tM

 

 

 

HAH! Take that!

 

...So let me get this straight...a replica of a fictional weapon is disallowed and banned on the airlines? Seriously?

 

I think they were just screwing with Mayhew because it was high profile.

[JesusIsGonnaOwnSatan]

Do they not allow normal canes onto flights..??

 

Also, nothing like a little naming and shaming to get things moving along. Especially when it's with bureaucracy.

[Darth Avlectus]

Good question. Far as I know they scrutinize *everything*. Even just canes.

I found it irritating and yet hilarious the TSA would put up such a bitch-fit over a novelty cane. The more I think about it the more I get the impression either they knew it was a famous person and wanted to get his autograph or the unusual size of the actor is what "warranted" the extra attention. I suppose the cane could double as a makeshift bludgeoning weapon but that'd be kind of pointless unless it was a desperate fending-off.

 

I've had some things stolen behind me (palm pilot, green laser pointer, gold dollar) or in the case of energy drinks, just plain taken away because they weren't allowed on the planes (probably to boost the sales of drinks on the flights). I had to throw a japan steel keychain pocket knife away b/c if I didn't and tried to take it through I'd have been arrested and charged with a felony. Had some sentimental value.