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TSA Agents Find And Return Diamond That Fell Off Newlywed's Engagement Ring

July 20, 2021

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers in New York helped reunite a recently married woman with the diamond that fell off her engagement ring at the airport.

John Killian | the recovered diamond

Amir Durrani and his wife were flying out of John F. Kennedy International Airport for their pandemic-delayed honeymoon to Guam. After passing through the TSA checkpoint, the couple decided to grab some coffee. When they got to the coffee shop, the new bride realized that the diamond was missing from her engagement ring.

"My wife was crying hysterically as we did not know what happened, nor did we know how to approach the situation," Amir Khan Durrani wrote in an email to TSA.

He raced back to the checkpoint and alerted the TSA officers. "Everyone was extremely kind and helped me as much as they could to locate the lost diamond," he said. "I told them that I knew this was not their job" to help find a lost diamond, although "everyone present helped look for the diamond to no avail," he recalled.

About five hours after it was reported missing, TSA Officer John Killian spotted the lost diamond from his supervisory podium. Killian said he was standing at the podium when he glanced toward the checkpoint line to get a sense of how busy it was.

"That's when I spotted the sparkle and thought to myself, 'No way that could really be it.' I walked over and picked it up."

The diamond was on the floor between the metal detector and the X-ray machine.

"The shine caught my eye. I was like, 'wow, I just found this diamond!'"

When the Durranis landed, there was a text message and voicemail informing them that TSA believed that the diamond had been located.

"Our trip went from a chaotic moment to one at peace," Durrani wrote in an email to the TSA. "I would like to commend everyone and their efforts for finding our diamond and safekeeping it before our return back to New York. I want to mention deep down in my heart, that this moment put us in relief. I hope everyone understands how much this meant to my wife and me."

His email continued, "Thank you so much to all the staff present and especially to officer John Killian. I might not ever meet you, but you had an impact on us at that moment and I will never forget it. I wish you all the best for your efforts and honesty."