Woodbridge Man Tried To Bring Loaded Gun To Newark Liberty Airport

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — A Woodbridge man tried to bring a loaded handgun onto his flight at Newark Liberty International airport last Friday, June 30, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced in this press release.

A TSA officer spotted the handgun in an X-ray machine at a Terminal B checkpoint, and called Port Authority Police. They confiscated the gun and interviewed the man, a resident of Woodbridge, N.J., before arresting him on a weapons charge. The gun was loaded with seven bullets.

The Woodbridge man was not named.

In addition to being arrested, he also faces a stiff federal financial civil penalty for bringing a gun to a security checkpoint. The penalty for bringing a weapon to a TSA checkpoint can cost as much as $15,000, depending on the circumstances.

Friday’s gun catch was the second gun that TSA officers prevented from being carried onto a flight last week: Officers also detected a firearm on Sunday, July 25 at Newark.

So far this year, people have been caught trying to bring 12 firearms into planes at Newark Liberty, and the TSA points out there are still six months remaining in 2023. Nationwide, TSA officers have prevented more than 3,000 guns from getting through security checkpoints this year and last year, 6,542 firearms were caught at 262 out of 430 airport security checkpoints nationwide. Eighty-eight percent of those guns were loaded.

The Friday before the July 4 holiday was also a record-setting day at Newark Airport: TSA officers screened 2.8 million passengers travelers across the country Friday, and screened 83,041 passengers at Newark Liberty International.

“Summer has been extremely busy and Friday was the busiest day ever in TSA’s 21-year history here at Newark Liberty International Airport,” said Thomas Carter, TSA’s federal security director for New Jersey. “If you’re flying this summer, it is vitally important to know that the items you have in your carry-on bag are allowed through our security checkpoints. My best advice is that when you’re ready to pack, start with an empty bag so you know with certainty what you’ve got inside and you know that there is nothing prohibited in a side pocket, zippered pouch or just in the bottom of your bag. That goes for backpacks, roller bags, handbags, messenger bags and duffle bags."