Laurel Man Brings Loaded Gun To BWI, 'Forgot' He Had It: TSA

LAUREL, MD — A Laurel man was arrested at BWI airport after TSA officers caught him with a loaded gun that he "forgot he had" in his backpack at a security checkpoint Thursday.

The unidentified man had a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun loaded with nine bullets, as well as an extra magazine with nine more bullets on him, TSA officials said. The man told officials that he forgot that he was carrying his loaded gun with him.

TSA officers detected the gun as the man entered the TSA checkpoint and placed his carry-on items on the x-ray conveyor belt. They then contacted the Maryland Transportation Authority Police who responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the firearm and arrested the man on weapons charges.

This gun catch marks the 21st firearm that TSA officers have detected at BWI Airport so far this calendar year. In 2016, a total of 24 firearms were detected at the airport’s checkpoints.

Photo: Laurel man's loaded handgun, courtesy of TSA