Gun Found In Airline Contractor's Belongings At Philly Airport: TSA

PHILADELPHIA — An airline contractor was caught with a loaded 9mm handgun at the Philadelphia International Airport last week, authorities said.

The discovery was made Friday by Transportation Security Administration officers at an employee checkpoint.

TSA said the firearm was loaded with 10 bullets when TSA officers detected the firearm among the worker’s belongings at the checkpoint while he was on his way to work.

Airport police were contacted, responded to the checkpoint where they confiscated the firearm, cited the man, a Philadelphia resident, and took possession of his airport identification badge.

Without the badge, the man is unable to work at the airport.

"This was a good catch on the part of our TSA officers as it addressed a possible insider threat situation," Gerardo Spero, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport, said. "Individuals who work at the airport, whether they are members of the flight crew, work at retail shops, work for airlines, or are contractors of a company that does business at the airport are not allowed to bring prohibited items onto the secure side of the airport. We are always on alert for employees who may have possible bad intentions, which could possibly represent a threat to aviation security."

In addition to losing his ID badge, which prevents him from working at the airport, the individual also faces a possible federal financial civil citation, which could cost thousands of dollars.

So far in 2024, TSA has found 17 guns at the Philadelphia International Airport checkpoints. Last year, 45 firearms were intercepted at the airport checkpoints.