2 Firearms, Switchblade Found In Carry-On Items At VA Airport: TSA

ARLINGTON, Va. – Transportation Security Administration officers stopped two firearms from being brought onto a flight leaving Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Friday.

TSA officers found a loaded .22 caliber handgun and a switchblade among an Indiana man's carry-on items at a security checkpoint. Later in the day, officers stopped an Aldie man with a .380 caliber handgun loaded with five bullets.

In both cases, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police officers confiscated the weapons and cited the travelers. For bringing a weapon to an airport checkpoint, both men face potential penalties of up to $15,000.

After having his firearm confiscated, the Indiana man returned to the airport check-in counter to put the switchblade knife into his checked baggage.

“It is extremely disappointing to continue to see travelers bring their firearms to our checkpoints,” said John Busch, TSA’s federal security director at the airport. “Not only does this disrupt and slow down our operation, it presents a serious risk to the safety of other travelers. Individuals who own firearms need to have a greater awareness of the contents of their carry-on bags before coming to the airport to ensure that they do not have their deadly weapons with them.”

People are allowed to travel with their handguns, but the handguns must be properly stored in their checked baggage and declared at check-in. In addition, handguns must be stored unloaded in a hard-locked case, with ammunition stored separately. The hard-locked case must be brought to the airline check-in window, where it will be checked with the traveler's baggage. TSA has more information available onlinefor people traveling with firearms.

“Responsible gun owners know where their guns are at all times,” Busch said. “Each of these individuals face a federal financial civil penalty in addition to having to deal with the criminal citations issued by the police.”

Including the two weapons detected last week, TSA officers have detected a total of 24 firearms at Washington National in 2024. Thirty-nine firearms were stopped at the airport in 2023, which was 10 more than the previous year.