When you check your baggage at the airport, it typically goes through an X-ray machine and possibly other screening procedures managed by security staff. If these screenings reveal the presence of prohibited items, the following steps may occur:
Notification: In some cases, you may be paged over the airport's announcement system or contacted directly to return to the security or baggage area.
Inspection: Your luggage will likely be opened and inspected by security staff. This could happen in your presence or not, depending on the airport's rules and regulations.
Removal of Prohibited Items: The prohibited item will be removed from your baggage. Depending on the item and local laws, it may be confiscated and possibly destroyed.
Potential Consequences: If the item is illegal (like drugs or certain weapons), law enforcement may be called, and you could face legal penalties. If the item is simply prohibited by airline rules (like certain types of liquids or sharp objects), it will typically just be confiscated.
Further Screening: Your luggage may go through further screening to ensure there are no other prohibited items.
Repacking: After the inspection, the security staff will repack your luggage. In most cases, they will leave a note inside your bag to let you know it was inspected.
Continuation of Journey: If there are no further issues, your luggage will continue its journey to the airplane.
Please note that the process may vary slightly depending on the airport, country, and specific situation. Always check the rules and regulations of both your airline and the countries you're traveling to and from to avoid unintentionally packing prohibited items.