This handgun was detected by TSA officers in a passenger’s carry-on bag at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Oct. 27. (TSA photo)
DETROIT – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a man from carrying a .40 caliber handgun and a magazine loaded with 13 bullets onto an airplane at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) Tuesday.
At approximately 7:30 a.m., a TSA officer detected the gun in the local man’s carry-on bag. TSA officials immediately alerted the Wayne County Airport Police, who responded and removed the passenger and weapon away from the checkpoint.
“During this pandemic, our TSA officers continue to intercept firearms and prohibited items brought to the airport security checkpoints,” said Detroit’s TSA Federal Security Director Steve Lorincz. “The safety and security of all travelers and crew members remain our top priority and I strongly encourage travelers to be mindful of the whereabouts of their firearms at all times.”
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. The complete list of civil penalties is on the TSA website. 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.
This is the 33rd firearm detected at DTW this year. A total of 47 were detected at DTW security checkpoints last year.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case and declared at the airline check-in counter.
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.