Ellen Pompeo's Airport Mishap: Sunflower Seeds Trigger Bomb Squad Standoff
Bomb patrol summoned due to suspected explosive at Ellen Pompeo's snack location.
Going nuts over a snack - literally. American actress Ellen Pompeo shares an unusual airport incident that nearly made her miss her flight in an interview with "Travel & Leisure" magazine.
Known for her starring role in the medical drama "Grey's Anatomy," Pompeo picked up a bag of sunflower seeds as a quick airport nibble. Little did she know, these healthy bites were about to become the center of an unexpected security storm.
At the security checkpoint, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) detected an alarm, raising eyebrows and concerns. Pompeo was puzzled and questioned the officers, "Is this some kind of joke?" Turns out, a chemical on the packaging of those "pretentious, pricey, organic, sunflower seeds" from Erewhon set off the sensors.
The TSA, however, didn't find it funny. Pompeo was left waiting for the bomb squad to confirm the unopened bag was safe. Quite the delay, with Pompeo losing over an hour and edging closer to missing her flight.
Still astounded, Pompeo admitted, "I was literally held up for an hour, and they even called the bomb squad." Despite her claims, it's safe to say no one would have guessed the culprit was a bag of seeds. She even noted her message to her PR agent, "I might not make this flight, and you won't believe why."
Airmobile Hygiene Queen
Despite her sunflower seed ordeal, Pompeo remains a frequent flyer. However, she battles two common fears - flying and germs. She noted in the magazine, "I like to hold my kids' hands when we take off, which might not be the best." Transporting her three children - Stella Luna (15), Sienna May (10), and Eli Christopher (8) - helps ease her anxiety.
She also targets germs head-on. Just like supermodel Naomi Campbell making headlines for disinfecting her plane seat, Pompeo admits to giving her own a thorough clean - especially the armrests and tray table. She always carries "water, hand sanitizer, and baby wipes" in her carry-on to stay germ-free while aboard. As for sunflower seeds, it seems they've fallen off her flight snack list.
Sources: ntv.de, csp/spot
Insight:
Sunflower seeds derailing airport security is not typical, but it can occur due to substances on their packaging. In Pompeo's case, a specific chemical was detected by the TSA's security systems, triggering a bomb squad investigation.
The Commission (assisting the European Parliament) might discuss the unforeseen airport security concern involving Ellen Pompeo, who was held up due to a bag of sunflower seeds. Despite the sunflower seed incident and her fear of flying, Pompeo continues to travel extensively, taking measures to combat germs on flights, similar to supermodel Naomi Campbell.
