Man Warns Travelers After TSA Scanner Catches Awkward Airport Moment With His Erection

One man found himself extremely embarrassed while going through airport security and has now taken to the internet to warn others about his awkward experience.

We all know how airport security can be a bit nerve-wracking. Whether it’s scrambling to find your boarding pass or realizing you left something in your bag, it can definitely get stressful.

If you’re flying internationally, you obviously need a passport. But for domestic travel, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) accepts what's called a REAL ID, which serves as valid identification at checkpoints.

Now when they say REAL ID, they mean things like a driver’s license, a birth certificate, or other official documents—not, for example, your Costco membership card.

But putting ID aside for a moment, there's something else you really don’t want to bring through TSA and that’s an erection.

This guy shared his story on Reddit about how he went through a security scan with what he described as “a slight chub” after saying goodbye to his long-distance girlfriend. It turned into an experience he’ll likely never forget.

A guy recalled his very awkward TSA experience Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

"This is not a joke, I'm trying to warn other dudes if they are ever in this situation." the man wrote to kick off his story.

"This happened to me yesterday, Tuesday morning at the Reno-Tahoe security. I had flown to visit my girlfriend and when she dropped me off we were kissing making out you know in her car before I left. I had a SLIGHT chub still, dudes know what I mean by this."

"I was scared, it was going away but too slowly, of course the one time there is no line."

He went on to explain what happened next: "I put my hands up and did the scanner, I look at the screen, and THERE IS A HUGE RED CIRCLE around my private area. I got pat down once, this is common at airports, I have a subcutaneous defibrillator in my chest but he went to my legs."

"Then he brought over his supervisor, he pat me down again and I said lowly 'I was just with my girl my bad man' and he said you're good to go."

He later described the whole thing as 'the most humiliating experience I have ever had in my life' and admitted he was just hoping no surveillance footage of the incident exists.

"I'm 26, usually my erections subside quickly but this was just an awful timing." the man added. "The more I thought and worried about it before, the slower it went away."

The post quickly drew a lot of attention, with many commenters chiming in—some with serious advice, and others just having a laugh about it.

One person joked: "Your schlong is so majestic it set off the security scanners at the airport, I'd wear that with a badge of honor my friend."

"Could have been worse. You could have not been with your girl beforehand." said another commenter.

A third person joined in with: "I call those scanners 'electronic pecker checkers'."

Others didn’t laugh as much as they sympathized, with some sharing that they’d experienced similarly awkward airport moments themselves.