Severn Passenger Charged With Having Loaded Gun At BWI Airport

HANOVER, MD — A Severn man was arrested at a Baltimore Washington International Airport security checkpoint Thursday for allegedly having a loaded gun in carry-on luggage. The handgun loaded with six bullets was spotted by a TSA officer at a checkpoint X-ray machine.

The man told Transportation Security Administration officials that he forgot he had packed his gun in the bag. Maryland Transportation Authority Police confiscated the loaded gun, and arrested the man on weapons charges.

This marks the 15th gun caught at the airport so far this year, which is a record pace. Last month TSA screeners spotted three handguns in bags in one week, said Lisa Farbstein, spokeswoman for the TSA.

Last year, a record 26 arrests were made for guns detected by TSA officers at the airport's checkpoints, the most guns caught at the airport during a single calendar year.

In 2016 TSA officers stopped 24 guns at the airport's checkpoints, said Farbstein. The numbers of weapons spotted at security points have steadily increased since 2013, when 13 guns were found. That inched up to 14 firearms in 2014 and 16 guns in 2015.

Authorities remind airline passengers that firearms are never allowed at security checkpoints. Passenger who try to transport firearms through security checkpoints face criminal charges and the TSA has the authority to assess fines of up to $13,000. A typical first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint is $3,900.

This summer is expected to be one of the busiest in TSA's history and when someone brings a firearm to a checkpoint, it closes the checkpoint lane until the situation can be resolved, thus forcing the other travelers to shift into another lane and delaying their passage through the checkpoint, Farbstein said.

What is the proper procedure for transporting firearms on flights?

Firearms are never permitted in carry-on bags. Firearms are permitted in checked bags if the following requirements are met:

• They are declared to the airline in advance.
• They are unloaded and properly packed.
• The carrier possesses the necessary permits.

Firearms carried as checked baggage must be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. Read the guidelines.

Firearm parts, including magazines, clips, bolts and firing pins, are prohibited in carry-on, but may be transported in checked baggage.

Passengers should check with their airline if ammunition is permitted in checked baggage. Small arms ammunitions for personal use must be packed in fiber, wood or metal boxes designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. Ask about limitations or fees.

More information on how to travel with a firearm can be found on the TSA's website.

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PHOTO: TSA officers say a man had this loaded handgun in his carry-on bag July 12 at BWI Airport. (Photo courtesy of TSA.)