This handgun inside a traveler’s carry-on bag was detected by TSA officers at Philadelphia International Airport on April 12. (TSA photo)
PHILADELPHIA – A Florida man was arrested by police on Wednesday, April 12, after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Philadelphia International Airport prevented the man from bringing his handgun onto a flight. The .380 caliber gun was loaded with seven bullets, including one in the chamber. The man’s backpack also contained six additional bullets that were tucked into his carry-on bag near the firearm.
The gun was caught as the man entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted on the carry-on bag, which was removed by the local police who confiscated the gun and arrested the man on weapons charges. The man told officials that he mistakenly left the gun in his backpack.
In addition to the arrest, he also faces a stiff financial civil penalty. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000 depending on the circumstances.
“The spring travel season is busy here in Philadelphia and our TSA officers are focused on ensuring that travelers do not bring prohibited or illegal items with them through the checkpoints,” said Gerardo Spero, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. I’m grateful that our officers here in Philadelphia and nationwide remain focused during this busy travel season. I hope that this incident will serve as a reminder to others who own a firearm to review proper procedures on how to pack a gun for a flight. Firearms should never be brought to the security checkpoint in carry-on luggage.”
Passengers are only permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage. Firearms must be unloaded then packed in a hard-sided locked case. 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 firearms caught at TSA checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport, 2017 to 2023
|
Year |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 (As of 4/13/23 |
|
Guns caught at Philadelphia International Airport checkpoints |
35 |
25 |
20 |
26 |
39 |
44 |
12 |
Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and gun owners have a duty to ensure they are not violating any local firearm laws. Additionally, contacting the respective airline could reveal any additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.
Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty because TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. Civil penalties for bringing a gun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because a concealed carry permit does not allow a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. Additionally, if a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.
Last year, 6,542 firearms were caught at 262 out of 430 airport security checkpoints nationwide. Eighty-eight percent of those guns were loaded.
Unsure if an item should be packed in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither? Download the free myTSA app, which has a handy “What can I bring?” feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly. Or ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers may send a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).