This firearm and ammunition were detected in a traveler’s carry-on bag by TSA officers at Newark Liberty International Airport on Jan. 20. (TSA photo)
NEWARK, N.J. – A Lackawanna County, Pa., man was arrested by police yesterday, Jan. 20, after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Newark Liberty International Airport intercepted a handgun in the man’s carry-on bag at one of the checkpoints in Terminal A.
It was the first firearm detected at one of the security checkpoints so far this year. Last year, the TSA officers at Newark set a record when they stopped 21 firearms at the airport checkpoints.
The Archbald, Pa., man was arrested by Port Authority Police after the 9mm gun, a folding knife and an extra 12 bullets in a gun magazine also were removed from the carry-on bag.
“Our officers are good at their job, and they are focused on the mission,” said Thomas Carter, TSA’s Federal Security Director for New Jersey. “Travelers are responsible for the contents of their carry-on bags. This individual had a gun, a loaded gun magazine and a knife among his carry-on items. That’s three prohibited items, which is absolutely inexcusable. Not only was this individual arrested, but he also faces a stiff federal financial civil penalty that could cost him thousands of dollars. That’s a very expensive mistake to make.”
Firearms caught at Newark Liberty International Airport checkpoints, 2018 to 2025
| Year | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023
| 2024
| 2025 (As of 1-20-25) |
| Guns caught at Newark Liberty International Airport checkpoints |
14 |
11 |
11 |
12 |
14 |
20 |
21 |
1 |
“Travelers always need to know the contents of their carry-on bag prior to coming to the security checkpoint and know that there is nothing illegal or prohibited inside,” Carter said.
The federal 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.
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.
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.