Giant teddy barred from flight by US Transportation Security Administration

Brodie the Bear was left abandoned at LAX, after being refused as carry-on. Photo / Instagram, TSA

It was a depressing sight: a giant novelty teddy bear, abandoned and slumped against an airport rubbish bin.

The image was posted on Instagram by the US Transportation Security Administration as a warning to those hoping to travel with enormous soft toys.

"He was abandoned by his owners at LAX after the airline and TSA determined that he was just too big to be screened as a carry-on and taken on the plane," the post read.

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Click on the link in our profile to read a blog post on this subject. ***UPDATE*** After watching a YouTube video posted by the traveler, we’ve learned that he’s a popular YouTuber and this was a stunt to see if he could get the giant bear on the plane. He even made up a backstory that the bear was a gift for his girlfriend. The bear did not belong to a child. The passenger had actually bought a ticket for the bear. After the airline and TSA decided the bear was too large, the airline offered to refund the ticket and the traveler was given the option of checking the bear as checked baggage. The traveler opted not to check the bear and left it behind.*** Why does this gigantic teddy bear look so sad? He was abandoned by his owners at LAX after the airline and TSA determined that he was just too big to be screened as a carry-on and taken on the plane. It’s a good idea to check with your airline prior to traveling with overly large items as cary-ons. If you see this wayward bear strolling the streets of LA, please feel free to feed him. #TSATravelTips

A post shared by Travel Tips & Dad Joke Hits 🎶 (@tsa) on Dec 14, 2016 at 2:21pm PST

"If you see this wayward bear strolling the streets of LA, please feel free to feed him," the agency added.

While many assumed a child had been left distraught after the incident, the TSA later revealed the truth: the down-and-out bear was owned by a YouTube prankster.

"After watching a Youtube video posted by the traveler, we've learned that he's a popular YouTuber and this was a stunt to see if he could get the giant bear on the plane," the TSA said in an update. "He even made up a back story that the bear was a gift for his girlfriend."

While the traveller had actually purchased a ticket for the bear, the TSA decided it was too big to screen but gave him the option of sending teddy as checked luggage.

"The traveler opted not to check the bear and left it behind," said the TSA.

In the YouTube video by Jake Paul, the prankster can be seen arguing with security and police about the giant teddy named Brodie - who even has his own Instagram account.

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SEE!!! My BFF @jakepaul bought me my own seat.🐻

A post shared by Brodie da Bear (@brodiedabear) on Dec 15, 2016 at 11:41am PST

"There's a 50 per cent chance that we lose him," Paul said at the beginning. "I'm kind of nervous, to be real".

- nzherald.co.nz