This loaded firearm was detected by TSA officers inside a traveler’s book bag at Newark Liberty International Airport on June 20. (TSA photo)
International Airport by police after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers intercepted a loaded handgun among the traveler’s carry-on items on Thursday, June 20. The .45 caliber firearm was detected in the traveler’s book bag.
The TSA officer detected the handgun as the book bag entered the checkpoint X-ray machine. Port Authority Police were alerted, came to the Terminal A checkpoint and escorted the man and his weapon out of the airport. He was not arrested because the man had a New Jersey permit to carry the firearm. However, he was not able to catch his flight.
“The busy summer travel period is in full swing, and we don’t need travelers bringing their firearms to our checkpoints,” said Thomas Carter, TSA’s Federal Security Director for New Jersey. “When individuals bring their firearms to our checkpoints, it represents a risk to everyone in the area and slows down the checkpoint screening process for everyone. Even individuals with a permit are not permitted to carry their firearm through a checkpoint. Our officers are good at their jobs and even with sky-high checkpoint volume, they remain alert and vigilant in screening individuals who are arriving at our checkpoints. I commend our officers on their good catch in preventing an individual from boarding a plane with a loaded firearm.”
The individual now faces a stiff federal financial civil penalty for bringing a gun to a security checkpoint. The penalty for bringing a weapon to a TSA checkpoint can cost as much as $15,000, depending on the circumstances.
TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and firearm parts with them at a checkpoint. This applies to individuals 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 firearm is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.
“Travelers need to pay more attention to the items that they have inside their carry-on bags,” Carter said. “Travelers are responsible for the contents of their carry-on bags. In addition, responsible gun owners know where their firearms are at all times and they know not to bring them to a security checkpoint.”
TSA firearms catches at airport checkpoints at Newark Liberty International Airport, 2018 to 2024
|
Year |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 (As of 6/20/24) |
|
Guns caught at Newark Liberty International Airport checkpoints |
14 |
11 |
11 |
12 |
14 |
20 |
7 |
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.
TSA reminds people to always know the contents of their carry-on bag prior to coming to the security checkpoint. TSA has multiple resources available to help determine whether an item is permitted in carry-on baggage, checked baggage, either or neither. 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.