**Ellen Pompeo's Airport Ordeal: TSA Detention Over Sunflower Seeds**

In an unexpected turn of events, "Grey's Anatomy" star Ellen Pompeo found herself detained by the TSA for an hour due to a seemingly innocuous item: sunflower seeds. The incident, which took place in March, started when Pompeo attempted to board a flight with a bag of expensive sunflower seeds from Erewhon, triggering an intense security procedure that even involved a bomb squad.

Pompeo, 55, shared her bewildering experience in a recent interview with Travel + Leisure. She explained that TSA officers grew suspicious of the expensive, organic seeds, resulting in an hour-long delay. "They literally held me for an hour, and they brought the bomb squad in," she revealed. Despite her repeated inquiries, the officials told her that it was likely a chemical on the seed packaging that provoked their alarm.

Attempting to expedite the situation, Pompeo offered to discard the seeds, but the TSA insisted she wait for the bomb squad's clearance before she could proceed. Reminiscing about the ordeal, Pompeo joked, "I might not get on this plane, and you're never gonna guess why," she texted her publicist, highlighting the absurdity of the situation.

Despite this hiccup, Pompeo remains an avid traveler. She shared that her essential carry-on items include mints, glasses, water, hand sanitizer, and baby wipes, noting her habit of wiping down her seat thoroughly—a practice inspired by Naomi Campbell. In terms of travel companions, Pompeo loves journeying with her family. She is married to music producer Chris Ivery, and they have three children together: Stella Luna, 15, Sienna May, 10, and Eli Christopher, 8.

As a self-confessed nervous flier, Pompeo admits that she relies on her family for comfort during flights. "I like to hold my kids' hands when I take off," she said, acknowledging that this might transfer some of her anxiety onto them. Nonetheless, the close-knit family often travels together, and Pompeo cherishes these moments despite the occasional travel hiccup like the TSA sunflower seed debacle.