As it turns out, there are some things that are worse than the airline losing your bag.
Baggage issues are pretty common while traveling. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 5.5 out of every 100 bags were mishandled in 2024. This means that there were a total of over 2.7 million bag mishandlings in 2024 alone.
Most of the time, these baggage problems are fairly minor. As every frequent traveler can tell you, lost or delayed luggage is relatively common and simply an unfortunate part of the experience.
Sometimes, however, a luggage incident can be so shocking that other travelers start to wonder how it was even possible in the first place. For example, can anyone explain how this baggage claim ended up covered in raw meat?
What Happened At The Phoenix Airport Baggage Claim?
In a video with over 18 million views, TikTok user Quinn Davis (@quinndavisracing12) shows the baggage claim at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. On the baggage claim is a cooler that has tipped over, spilling its contents over the baggage carousel.
The contents of that cooler? A whole bunch of raw deer meat.
According to local outlet 12News, the video was actually filmed by a man named Robert Ramos. When he saw the raw meat, he was appalled.
“It’s shocking to see meat and blood spilled all over the luggage carousel, especially because there’s other luggage on the carousel, and they were still pushing luggage out,” Ramos told 12News. “My first reaction was to make sure that none of my luggage was on the carousel already.”
Are You Allowed To Bring Raw Meat Through Airport Security?
In an email, an airport spokesperson confirmed to BroBible that “this occurred Jan. 1 in Terminal 4. Our maintenance crews stopped the carousel and cleaned up the spill.”
However, seeing a mass of raw meat spilled all over baggage claim led some to wonder, can you really travel with a whole bunch of raw meat?
The answer is, surprisingly, yes—though there are some caveats.
According to the TSA, “meat, seafood and other non-liquid food items are permitted in both carry-on and checked bags.” If the food is packed with ice or ice packs, it must be fully frozen when brought through screening.
There are also some rules about bringing meat back from international travel. Depending on the country of origin, one may have to declare it, or one may be forbidden from bringing it back at all.
How Can You Make Sure This Doesn’t Happen?
In online discussions about traveling with meat, hunters say that the TSA tends to open luggage containing meat.
Consequently, many recommend that one should package their meat in a way that allows the container to be opened but also quickly and effectively resecured.
The TSA is supposed to repack any luggage it opens in the normal course of inspection. That said, mistakes can occasionally occur, or the method of bag securement may not have been effective in the first place. In cases like these, spills like the one shown in the video are possible. Though that doesn’t mean they aren’t gross.
@quinndavisracing12 When your sister gets off the plane in @SkyHarborAirport, and waits for her bags….but someone’s deer meat spills🤢#skyharborairport #fyp #foryoupageofficiall #foryoupagе
Commenters Are Shocked
In the comments section, users couldn’t believe that this was even allowed to happen.
“The way I would just end up leaving without my suitcase because this would ruin my day,” wrote a user.
“I worked in baggage at sky harbor, and it gets worse,” added another. “I only buy hard sided rough textured luggage now that can be cleaned.”
Others questioned the apparent hypocrisy of the TSA. These users cited all that they have had to give up in order to board a flight.
“Okay so why did i have to throw out my new perfume,” asked a user.
“But God forbid I don’t put my lip gloss in a clear quart sized zip lock baggie !” exclaimed a second.
BroBible reached out to Davis via TikTok direct message and comment and to Ramos via TikTok direct message.