Man With Loaded Gun Arrested At Pittsburgh International Airport

MOON TOWNSHIP, PA — With four months still to go in the year, the number of guns confiscated at Pittsburgh International Airport in 2023 now has exceeded 2022's total.

An Arizona man was arrested at the airport Friday after Transportation Security Administration officers at the airport detected a loaded handgun among the man’s belongings. The .380 caliber gun was loaded with five bullets.

When the man unzipped his laptop bag at the security checkpoint, his loaded gun fell onto the floor. TSA officers took possession of the firearm and contacted the police, who confiscated the weapon and arrested the man on a weapons charge.

The man also faces a stiff federal financial civil penalty. Federal penalties for bringing weapons to the checkpoint can run as high as $15,000, depending on the circumstances.

It was the 27th gun confiscated at the airport this year. In 2022, 26 were confiscated for the entire year. In the last half-decade, the largest number confiscated was 34 in 2o18.

“There is absolutely no excuse for bringing a firearm to one of our checkpoints,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport.

“Travelers are responsible for the items that they have in their possession. I strongly encourage gun owners to take a few moments before they come to the airport to refresh their familiarity with the proper procedures on how to pack a gun for a flight. Firearms should never be brought to the security checkpoint in carry-on luggage. Responsible gun owners know this."