Loaded Gun Found In Carry-On Bag At Philly Airport Last Week: TSA

PHILADELPHIA — Transportation Security Administration officers at Philadelphia International Airport found a loaded handgun in a traveler's carry-on bag last week, officials said.

The firearm was found on Thursday at a security checkpoint.

According to TSA, a New Castle, Delaware woman was prevented from bringing the gun after it was found in her carry-on bag via an x-ray unit.

The .380 caliber gun was loaded with six bullets.

Police confiscated the firearm and cited the woman.

Additionally, she faces a stiff financial civil penalty for bringing a gun to a TSA security checkpoint.

The penalty for carrying weapons can reach as high as $15,000, depending on the circumstances.

"This was a good catch on the part of our TSA team here at Philadelphia," said Gerardo Spero, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. "As we all know, passengers are not permitted to carry their firearms through our security checkpoints."

So far in 2023, TSA has caught 29 firearms at security checkpoints at the Philadelphia International Airport, TSA data shows.