TSA Stops Traveler From Bringing Gun On Flight Leaving VA Airport

ARLINGTON, VA — Transportation Security Administration officers prevented a Virginia man from bringing a loaded handgun and ammunition onto a flight leaving Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Monday.

At an airport checkpoint, TSA officers discovered a 9mm firearm loaded with 17 bullets packed alongside 26 additional bullets in the carry-on items of a traveler from Orange, Virginia.

TSA notified the Washington Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police, who confiscated the handgun and ammunition. Then then issued the man a criminal citation bringing a firearm to an airport checkpoint. The traveler faces potential penalties of up to $15,000, according to TSA..

“It is disappointing to see someone who shows up with a loaded gun along with so much additional ammunition in their carry-on bag,” said John Busch, TSA’s federal security director for the airport. “TSA has been in existence for about 23 years yet, guns on planes have been prohibited decades before TSA even existed. Responsible gun owners know the firearms regulations and know where their firearm is at all times. Unwittingly having a loaded weapon in your possession is very dangerous, and puts everyone around you at risk. Our security officers are diligent and work hard to keep everyone safe. We will remain vigilant. I ask all firearms owners to be as attentive to their own property.”

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.

Including the handgun found on Monday,TSA officers have detected a total of 30 firearms at Washington National in 2024. Thirty-nine firearms were stopped at the airport in 2023, which was 10 more than the previous year.