Lost & Found

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), some office in-person pick up is suspended until further notice.

The Lost & Found contacts are for items left at TSA security checkpoints or items missing from checked baggage. For items left in other areas of the airport, please check the airport's website for contact information.

Aberdeen Regional Airport (ABR) Aberdeen, South Dakota	605-330-2500
Abilene Regional Airport (ABI) Abilene, Texas	325-676-6367
Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) Springfield, Illinois	309-757-6617
Adak Airport (ADK) Adak, Alaska	518-452-4247
Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK) Saranac Lake, New York	Online Form

Items left behind at TSA security checkpoints are held by TSA for a minimum of 30 days or until the item is reunited with the original owner.

Electronics

Passengers are encouraged to place their contact information on the outside of their electronics, such as laptops, in case the item is left behind. TSA will make every effort to reunite passengers with their belongings.

Unclaimed electronics will have its memory removed and destroyed (e.g. laptop hard drive) or be destroyed completely (e.g. items with non-removable memory) to protect personal data after the 30-day holding period.

Claiming Items

Passengers may return to the airport to pick up their item or may approve someone else, in writing, to do so. Items can be shipped back to the owner at the owner’s expense. TSA is not authorized to spend money to return items to passengers.

FAQ

Does TSA gain any profit from any lost or abandoned items?

Money from the sale of all lost and found items goes to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and into a general fund used to pay towards the U.S. national debt.

How do I file a claim for a missing or damaged item?

You may file a claim if you are injured or your property is lost or damaged during the screening process. Screening at certain airports is performed by private companies and not TSA.

How do I pick up my item from lost and found?

To retrieve the item, you must be able to describe the item, when it was lost, the color of the item, or any information identifying the item, to ensure it is reunited with its rightful owner.

How do I recover a lost item left at the airport?

Contact lost and found to locate items left at the security checkpoint. For items left elsewhere in the airport, please contact the airport authority.

How many lost and found items are found by TSA annually?

TSA estimates that approximately 90,000 to 100,000 items are left behind at checkpoints each month.

What happens if an ID is left behind at a checkpoint?

TSA works with the airport to reunite passengers with all lost or unclaimed personal property, including personal identification items such as drivers’ licenses and passports, left behind at a checkpoint. If the ID is not claimed within 30 days, it is destroyed.

What happens to guns/weapons found in carry-on bags left behind?

All weapons detected in carry-on bags are turned over to local law enforcement authorities.

What happens to items left at security checkpoints? Is there a process?

TSA makes every effort to reunite passengers with items left behind at the airport checkpoint. Lost and found items retained by TSA for a minimum of thirty (30) days, and if not claimed, are either destroyed, turned over to a state agency for surplus property, or sold by TSA as excess property. The state may dispose of the items through sales, destruction, donations or charities. The state keeps any money from sales, not TSA. At a number of locations, lost and found items are turned over to the airport at the end of each day.

What happens to lost items that contain personal information?

What information should I provide on the claim?

Provide as much detail as possible including receipts, appraisals and flight information to avoid delays. Contact your airline for lost or missing baggage.

What is the status of my claim?

Please allow up to six months to fully investigate your claim. Claims that require investigation by law enforcement require additional processing time.

All claims are investigated thoroughly and the final decision to approve a claim rests with TSA. If your claim is approved, you will receive a letter and form to complete regarding settlement agreement and/or payment methods. You can check the status of your claim at any time.