Southbury Man Attempted To Bring Loaded Gun On Plane: Reports

SOUTHBURY, CT — A Southbury man was charged on accusations that he attempted to carry a handgun through security at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, NY, according to WFSB 3-TV. A TSA X-ray machine alerted security to the carry-on bag, where a police officer found a .45 caliber handgun loaded with seven bullets.

The man was arrested on weapons charges. He faces up to $15,000 in fines for attempting to bring a handgun through TSA security, WFSB 3-TV reported.

This was the first gun found at Westchester County Airport this year. Last year, TSA officials found four guns at Westchester County Airport, according to FOX 61.

In total last year, 6,542 firearms were caught at 262 out of 430 TSA security checkpoints nationwide, and 88 percent of those guns were loaded.

Passengers are permitted to travel with guns in checked baggage under specific rules. 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.

Specific rules on traveling with guns are available on the TSA's website.

The news comes shortly after a Greenwich woman was stopped from bringing a loaded handgun through a security checkpoint at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The woman was arrested Friday with a .22 caliber gun loaded with nine rounds, including one in the chamber.

See related: Greenwich Woman Brought Loaded Gun Into JFK Security Checkpoint: TSA