This firearm was detected at a checkpoint by TSA officers at Philadelphia International Airport on Oct. 24. (TSA photo)
PHILADELPHIA – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Philadelphia International Airport intercepted a handgun at one of the security checkpoints on Thursday, October 24. The 9mm handgun was not loaded, however it was packed with five accessible bullets in an adjacent gun magazine.
The firearm was intercepted when the checkpoint X-ray unit alerted a TSA officer of the gun inside the carry-on bag. Police responded to the checkpoint and confiscated the firearm from the man, a resident of Yardley, Pa.
“When someone brings a loaded gun to one of our checkpoints, it is a risk to everyone in the airport,” said Gerardo Spero, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “Firearms represent a threat because the intention of the traveler is unknown. If you own a firearm, do not bring it to a checkpoint. If you must travel with your gun, the proper way to do it is to make sure it’s unloaded, packed in a hard-sided locked case and taken to the airline check-in counter. The airline will ensure it is transported in the belly of the aircraft."
“Passengers are responsible for the contents of their carry-on bags,” he added. “This individual can expect that TSA will issue him a very costly Federal civil penalty for his careless actions. That’s an expensive lesson to learn. Hopefully other owners of firearms will learn from his mistake.”
Firearms caught at TSA checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport, 2017 to 2024
| Year | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 As of 10/24/24 |
| Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) | 35 | 25 | 20 | 26 | 39 | 44 | 45 | 35 |
TSA has details on how to travel with a firearm and ammunition posted on its web site. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and passengers should do their homework to make sure that they are not violating any local firearm laws. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have 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 individuals 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 individuals with or without concealed gun carry permits because a concealed carry permit does not allow a firearm to be carried through a checkpoint. 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.
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).