A Texas man was stopped at an airport in Maryland on Monday when airport security found a missile launcher in his checked luggage, authorities said.

Transportation Security Administration officials and airport police tracked the man down at the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and brought him in for questioning after they located the military weapon.

The man, who was not identified by the TSA, is from Jacksonville, Texas, and told agents that he was active duty military.

He said he was returning from Kuwait, and "he wanted to keep the missile launcher as a souvenir," the TSA said in a statement.

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"Military weapons are not permitted in checked or carry-on bags," the agency said.

The TSA said that the device was not live and was turned over to state fire officials for disposal.

The man was allowed to catch his flight, but TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein tweeted, "Perhaps he should have picked up a keychain instead!"

Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller on Twitter @RyanW_Miller