In a surprising revelation, Ellen Pompeo, the beloved star of Grey’s Anatomy, shared an alarming experience she encountered while traveling. During a recent interview with Travel + Leisure, Ellen disclosed that she was detained by the TSA and had a bomb squad called in after attempting to board a plane with sunflower seeds in her carry-on luggage back in March.
According to Ellen, the situation escalated when she set off alarms while passing through security. “I had a bag of sunflower seeds, like organic sunflower seeds from Erewhon, so they were probably the most expensive sunflower seeds money can buy,” she explained. Despite her attempts to resolve the issue by offering to dispose of the seeds, officials insisted on a thorough examination, leading to a tense hour-long wait.
As the bomb squad arrived, Ellen recalled her disbelief: “I was like: ‘What is happening? Is this a joke?’” She learned that the source of the alarm was likely a chemical present on the packaging of her organic sunflower seeds. “My protein on the plane!” she added humorously, highlighting the absurdity of the situation.
Ellen further revealed the stakes of the incident, stating, “I almost missed the flight. It was really like no one would ever believe this! I was texting my publicist saying: ‘I might not get on this plane, and you're never gonna guess why.’” This unexpected travel hiccup reminded fans and travelers alike that even the simplest items can cause major disruptions at airport security.
Despite this unusual experience, Ellen Pompeo emphasized her love for travel. Her story serves as a reminder to travelers everywhere about the sometimes unpredictable nature of flying and the importance of being prepared for anything, even when it comes to seemingly benign items like sunflower seeds.
Have you ever triggered TSA alarms over something totally harmless? Share your experiences in the comments below!
