Travelers at Pittsburgh International Airport continue to bring firearms to checkpoints

PITTSBURGH--Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers working at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) continue to see travelers bringing their guns to the airport checkpoints in record numbers this year.

TSA officers at PIT have prevented 39 guns from getting through the checkpoints so far this year, which has surpassed the record for most firearms caught in a year with two months still remaining in 2023. The previous record was 35 firearms stopped at the airport checkpoints in a year, which set in 2019.

Nationwide, TSA officers have stopped more than 5,000 firearms at airport checkpoints so far this year and the agency is on pace to surpass the record of 6,542, which was set last year. The TSA team at Pittsburgh is part of that upward trend.

“Our TSA officers are good at their jobs in helping to ensure that passengers get to their destinations safely and get home safely,” said Karen Keys-Turner TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “Each firearm caught has been discovered during the routine screening of carry-on items at the airport checkpoint." 

“It is disappointing to see travelers continue to bring their guns to our checkpoints because in doing so they create a potentially dangerous situation through their own actions,” Keys-Turner added. “Responsible gun owners know where their guns are and they know not to bring them to a checkpoint. We have no issues with passengers who pack their firearms properly to be transported on their flight in their checked baggage, but bringing a loaded gun to a checkpoint is not the way to do it.”

When a TSA officer at PIT spots the image of a handgun on the x-ray monitor, TSA immediately alerts the Allegheny County Police, which responds to the security checkpoint and resolves the matter. In addition to potential criminal arrests or citations, travelers face stiff federal civil penalties for bringing guns to the security checkpoint. TSA evaluates each gun incident on a case-by-case basis.

Federal civil penalties for bringing a handgun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating circumstances. Among the factors TSA considers when determining the civil penalty amount include whether the firearm was loaded and whether there was accessible ammunition. Citations for carrying a weapon can reach $15,000. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online.

“The most common excuse we hear is that someone claims they forgot they had their loaded gun with them,” said Keys-Turner. “If you own a firearm, you should know where it is at all times. It is part of being a responsible gun owner. Even if a traveler has a concealed weapons permit, firearms are not allowed to board an airplane with the gun in carry-on luggage. The idea is that nobody should have access to a gun during a flight. However, you can transport it with checked baggage if you do so properly.”

Guns can be transported on a flight if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and declared to the airline. The airline will be sure that the gun travels with checked baggage in the belly of the plane, never in the cabin of the plane. Additionally, replica firearms also are prohibited in carry-on baggage and also must be transported in checked luggage.

Individuals who violate rules regarding traveling with guns will have Trusted Traveler status and TSA PreCheck® expedited screening benefits revoked.   

TSA has additional traveler information specifically related to the transportation of firearms and ammunition posted on its website.  

TSA reminds passengers to always know the contents of their carry-on bag prior to coming to the security checkpoint. TSA has multiple resources available to passengers to help them determine whether an item is permitted in carry-on baggage, checked baggage, either or neither.

TSA firearms catches at airport checkpoints at Pittsburgh International Airport, 2017 to 2023

Travelers can use the “Can I Bring?” feature on the TSA website or on the free downloadable myTSA app. Travelers can also tweet to @AskTSA or send a text message (275-872) if they have a travel question or are unsure if an item is allowed through security in a carry-on bag. Just snap a picture or send a question and get real-time assistance.