This handgun was detected by TSA officers in a passenger’s carry-on bag at Norfolk International Airport on Sept. 16. (TSA photo)
NORFOLK, Va. – Transportation Security Administration officers at Norfolk International Airport stopped an Oklahoma resident from carrying a loaded handgun onto his flight on Friday, Sept. 16.
TSA officers stopped the man when his carry-on bag triggered an alarm in the security checkpoint X-ray unit. Upon spotting the gun, TSA alerted the Norfolk Airport Authority Police, who responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the handgun, and cited the man on a weapons violation. The 9mm handgun was loaded with five bullets.
The case will be forwarded to the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney for possible criminal prosecution.
“Firearms may be transported for a flight, but only in checked baggage,” said Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA Federal Security Director for the airport. “Travelers can never carry a firearm through a security checkpoint.
“Our TSA officers are good at what they do,” he added. “They are always focused on the mission, and this is a good example of the fine work that they perform on behalf of our nation.”
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms only in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared at the respective airline ticket counter. Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-sided locked case, and packed separately from ammunition. Then the locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.
TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have gun(s) with them at a checkpoint. This applies to travelers regardless of their concealed gun carry permit status. A concealed carry permit does not allow a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. Members of TSA PreCheck® who travel with a gun in carry-on baggage will lose that privilege. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online and can run into thousands of dollars.
TSA officers detected 23 guns at Norfolk International Airport at the checkpoints in 2021. Last year, 5,972 firearms were caught at airport security checkpoints nationwide. Eighty-six percent of those guns were loaded.
Firearms caught by TSA officers at Norfolk International Airport checkpoints, 2016 to 2022
|
Year |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 (As of 9/18/22) |
|
Guns caught at Norfolk Airport checkpoints |
14 |
10 |
21 |
15 |
12 |
23 |
20 |