‘No one would ever believe this’: Bomb squad called in after Ellen Pompeo detained at US airport

One of the highest-paid television actresses has been stopped by security at a US airport and had the bomb squad called in.

Ellen Pompeo has revealed she was held “for an hour” and had the bomb squad called on her while travelling in the US.

The Grey’s Anatomy star set off alarms while going through airport security in March because of something she had purchased from the trendy, upscale Los Angeles grocery store, Erewhon.

“I had a bag of sunflower seeds, like organic sunflower seeds from Erewhon, so they were probably the most expensive sunflower seeds money can buy,” Pompeo told New York-based magazine Travel + Leisure.

The 55-year-old is one of highest-paid television actresses. She revealed in 2018 she had signed a deal to earn more than $20 million a year with Grey’s Anatomy. Pompeo spoke openly about her pay to inspire young women in Hollywood to fight for themselves.

But this year, her expensive taste for sunflower seeds almost made her miss a flight.

“They literally held me for an hour, and they brought the bomb squad in,” Pompeo said of the March incident.

“And I was like, what is happening? Is this a joke? They said it was most likely a chemical on the packaging of these super expensive, fancy, organic, clean sunflower seeds. My protein on the plane!”

Ellen Pompeo attending the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations on March 17, 2025 in New York City. Picture: Manny Carabel/Getty Images/AFP

She wasn’t allowed to just throw them away as the bomb squad needed to assess the bag, the publication reported.

“I almost missed the flight,” Pompeo said. “It was really like no one would ever believe this. I was texting my publicist saying, ‘I might not get on this plane, and you’re never gonna guess why.’”

Security checks at US airports have garnered much attention in recent months amid Donald Trump’s “enhanced vetting” and cases of tourists being denied entry on arrival, and at times, strip searched and thrown in prison.

People from across the world have been keeping a close eye on what is like to travel at US airports recently. Picture: Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFP

Pompeo also gave Travel + Leisure insight into what it’s like flying as a celebrity, aside from snacking on sunflower seeds.

The actress revealed she wears a hat and tries not to talk on the plane, even resorting to using sign language with her kids, because people recognise her voice.

“The minute I open my mouth, everybody turns,” she said.

The destination she is most eager to travel to is Japan.

“That’s one place that they all really are excited to go, and we haven’t gone yet,” said the mum of three.

Japan is currently a big favourite among Australians too, giving beloved Bali a run for its money.

About 920,000 Australians visited Japan in 2024, setting a new record. But the Japan National Tourism Organisation is bracing for even more Aussies this year, expecting to break the one million mark for the first time.