Firearm at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (TSA Photo)
MANCHESTER, N.H. – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a man from carrying a firearm onto an airplane at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. This was the first firearm detection this year by TSA officers at an MHT security checkpoint.
On Tuesday morning, at the main security checkpoint, TSA officers detected a firearm along with two magazines inside a locked hard-sided case. TSA immediately notified Londonderry Police who responded, and discovered the firearm was unloaded and the magazines contained a total of 23 rounds.
Police eventually escorted the New Hampshire resident back to the airline ticket counter so he could declare and check his firearm. The delay through security screening caused him to miss his original flight.
“Our TSA officers continue to do a fantastic job preventing firearms from entering the secure area of the airport,” said Matthew Hanson, TSA’s Assistant Federal Security Director-Security for New Hampshire. “Passengers who are traveling with firearms must ensure they are properly packed in their checked baggage. When an individual shows up at a checkpoint with a firearm it can slow or shut down security screening until the police resolve the incident.”
In 2021 TSA discovered four firearms at MHT security checkpoints and two in 2020.
TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. A typical first offense for carrying a loaded gun 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, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an 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.
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.