Police cite man after TSA officers at Norfolk Airport catch him with handgun

NORFOLK, Va. – Transportation Security Administration officers at Norfolk International Airport stopped a Florida resident from carrying his handgun onto a flight on Wednesday, Oct. 19. The 9mm gun, was not loaded. The catch came just three days after a Texas man was also caught with his handgun earlier this week.

TSA officers stopped the traveler 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 case will be forwarded to the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney for possible criminal prosecution.

“Our TSA officers are keenly focused on our mission and the fact that they continue to stop weapons from being carried through our security checkpoints is a strong indicator of how good they are at helping to ensure that passengers and crew members are safe,” said Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA Federal Security Director for the airport.

Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms only in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared at their 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.

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