SEATTLE - Officers with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) discovered two firearms within a five-minute period this morning during the routine X-ray screening of carry-on luggage at the security checkpoint.
The first firearm find occurred at 4:10 a.m. when a TSA officer saw the image of a firearm on the X-ray screen. The second firearm discovery occurred just a few minutes later at 4:15 a.m. in an adjacent screening lane. In both cases, screening was stopped and TSA notified the Port of Seattle Police Department, which responded to the security checkpoint.
“The discovery of two firearms in a five-minute period in a single airport in side-by-side screening lanes is extraordinary and unfortunate. However, it underscores the message that TSA has doggedly been conveying to travelers: take note of the contents of your carry-on luggage prior to coming to the airport to ensure that you do not bring firearms or others prohibited items to the security checkpoint,” said TSA Federal Security Director for Washington Jeff Holmgren. “Despite a steady increase in the number of travelers being screened each day, TSA is focused on its security mission and will remain vigilant to ensure that any type of security threat does not make it into the sterile area of the airport or onto an aircraft.”
Both travelers were male and ticketed on the same flight from Seattle to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Harbor Thursday morning. There is no evidence the incidents are linked. These are the 51st and 52nd firearm discoveries by TSA officers at SEA in 2021.
Below is a table of annual TSA firearm discoveries in carry-on luggage at SEA dating back to 2018:
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
81 |
70 |
53 |
Firearms can be transported on a commercial aircraft only if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case, declared to the airline and placed in checked baggage. Ammunition, firearm parts and any type of replica firearm are also prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be checked.
TSA will review the circumstances of each firearm incident and levy a civil penalty against each of the travelers. The recommended civil penalty for a firearm starts at $2,050 and can go up to the statutory maximum of more than $10,000 per violation.
In addition to civil penalties, individuals who violate rules regarding traveling with firearms will have Trusted Traveler status and TSA PreCheck® expedited screening benefits revoked for a period of time. The duration of the disqualification will depend upon the seriousness of the offense and if there is a repeated history of violations.
Firearms can be transported on a commercial aircraft only if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and placed in checked baggage. Ammunition, firearm parts and any type of replica firearm are prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be transported in checked luggage.
At the airport during the check-in process, a traveler should go to the airline ticket counter to declare the firearm, ammunition and any firearm parts. Prior to traveling, passengers are encouraged to check gun laws and regulations at their destination to ensure they are in compliance with local and state laws. TSA also recommends travelers check with their airline prior to their flight to ensure they comply with any airline-specific requirements. More information on traveling legally with a firearm is available on TSA’s website.
TSA has also seen an increase locally and nationwide in the number of stun guns coming to the security checkpoint in carry-on luggage. The most recent discovery at SEA was this today at 10 a.m. in the carry-on bag of a traveler flying to Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport. This follows a stun guns that discovered Tuesday, July 13 in the carry-on bag of a female traveler headed to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS).
On Monday, July 12, another traveler headed to LAS had a stun gun in her carry-on. On Sunday, July 10, TSA officers at SEA discovered two stun guns in carry-ons belonging to people traveling to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Newark International Airport.
Stun guns and other electro-shock weapons are never allowed in carry-on luggage. In addition, they must be transported in checked baggage in such a manner that the device is inoperable from accidental discharge.