BDL TSO’s detected this .9mm firearm and magazine containing a total of 17 rounds on Friday, June 3, 2022. (TSA Photo)
WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a man from carrying a loaded firearm onto his flight at Bradley International Airport (BDL) on Friday, June 3.
During security screening on Friday afternoon, a TSA officer detected a firearm in the man’s carry-on bag during security screening. TSA immediately notified Connecticut State Police (CSP) who responded and discovered a loaded .9mm firearm along with a total of 17 rounds. After questioning, CSP arrested the Georgia resident on multiple charges.
“Our TSA officers continue to do a fantastic job preventing firearms from entering the secure area of the airport,” said William Csontos, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Connecticut. “We expect it to be pretty busy this Summer travel season, so passengers who are traveling with firearms need to ensure they declare them with the airline and ensure they are properly packed in their checked baggage.”
This was the first firearm detected at a BDL security checkpoint this year. In 2021TSA discovered nine firearms at BDL security checkpoints.
There have been 16 firearm detections at New England security checkpoints in 2022, 13 at BOS, 1 each at BDL, MHT and PVD.
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 handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100 and can go as high as $13,669 depending on any aggravating 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.