INDIANAPOLIS – Transportation Security Administration officers (TSA) stopped a man from carrying a loaded .45 caliber handgun and magazine onto an airplane at Indianapolis International Airport (IND) on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
At approximately 12 p.m., a TSA officer detected the gun in the Alabama man’s carry-on bag. TSA officials immediately alerted the Indianapolis Airport Police Department, and an officer responded to the checkpoint and confiscated the weapon.
“During this pandemic, our TSA officers continue to be vigilant to stop weapons like this from boarding planes,” said Indianapolis TSA Federal Security Director Aaron Batt. “All travelers should check and then double check their belongings for prohibited items to help ensure a smooth process through the airport security checkpoints.”
TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns with them at a checkpoint. A typical first offense for carrying a loaded handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100 and can go as high as $13,669 depending on any mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, they are still not permitted to bring a firearm into the passenger section of the airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. If a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck™, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck™ privileges for a period of time.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packed in a hardback case, unloaded and declared at the airline check-in counter. Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-sided case, locked and packed separately from ammunition. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should check for firearm laws in the jurisdictions they are flying to and from.
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.