A Pembroke family breathed a sigh a relief after a local airline and the United States authorities helped them find a motorcycle engine that went “missing” on a return trip to the island.

Niambi Young said that the US Transportation Security Administration and BermudAir had worked to find the part from her son’s bike after it was flagged at the Orlando International Airport in Florida.

The item, which was deemed a hazardous material, was traced by authorities last week and plans were under way for it to be shipped to Bermuda.

“I was informed that it was located and we’re glad about that,” Ms Young said.

The family travelled with BermudAir to Orlando on July 4 and returned to Bermuda on July 18.

Ms Young said the purpose of the trip was for her son, Orlando, to ride motocross at several tracks in the Sunshine State.

Instead of renting or buying a bike there, his father carefully disassembled his son’s motocross bike and packed the parts into suitcases.

On their flight to Orlando, everything went smoothly and all of the bike parts arrived without issue.

However, Ms Young said that on their return flight to Bermuda, the suitcase containing the bike's engine was flagged and did not make the flight.

She explained: “We understand and accept that there may have been restrictions regarding the engine.”

Ms Young said the family were concerned about the whereabouts of the item because the bike cost about $3,000. They had also spent more money on replacement parts, repairs and servicing, including about $2,000 on preparing the bike in Orlando.

In a post on Facebook last week, she said that the family were unable to determine where the suitcase was.

She appealed for help or advice on next steps to find her luggage and return it to the island.

“At this point, we’re not simply looking to write it off as a lost item,” Ms Young wrote.

“We want help locating the bag and recovering the engine.

“We are even willing to explore alternative shipping arrangements, such as ocean freight, if the engine cannot legally be transported by air.”

The family had been in touch with BermudAir as its team in Orlando tracked the missing bag.

They later received confirmation that the bag’s whereabouts were known and the process began to reunite the engine with the rest of the bike — and its owner.

A TSA spokesman in Florida informed The Royal Gazette this week that the bag had been referred to its search room shortly after it was tagged for travel.

He explained that the engine had a “strong gasoline odour” and that hazardous materials removed from a traveller’s checked baggage are turned over to an airline representative.

A BermudAir spokeswoman last week urged travellers to be mindful of restricted items when making travel plans.

She said: “The safety and security of our passengers, crew and operations remain our highest priority and all airlines must comply with strict aviation security and hazardous materials regulations enforced by airport and government authorities.

“We encourage all passengers travelling with unusual, oversized, mechanical or potentially hazardous items to contact their airline in advance and ensure these items are fully declared and assessed before travel.

“Doing so helps avoid delays, confiscation or transport restrictions that may be imposed by airport security agencies, including the US Transportation Security Administration and other international screening authorities.

“Our team works closely with airport partners and regulatory agencies to support customers whenever issues arise and we appreciate passengers’ understanding and co-operation in helping us maintain a safe travel environment for everyone.”