A seeming spot of skullduggery caused concern and delays for passengers at Salt Lake City Airport TSA screening. Checking a carry-on bag, officers found a skull containing a 9 volt battery and sensor, which, unsurprisingly, they found to be ‘suspicious.’

Fearing it could be an explosive device the checkpoint went into lockdown and the area was shut down for around two hours while the threat was investigated by Salt Lake City police and a bomb sniffing canine.

“TSA officers reviewed the X-ray image on-screen of what appeared to be a skull with unidentifiable components inside. The item resembled an improvised explosive device,” the TSA said.

What was it?

The skull turned out to be a device used for neurosurgery training that helps teach how to conduct a lobotomy. A curious device, since it is believed the last lobotomy was performed in 1967.

The passenger was apparently taking it to a trade event in Cancun.

“This incident is an example of how TSA must take every potential security threat seriously,” TSA Federal Security Director for Utah Matt Davis said.