Firearm In Carry-On Bag Leads To Weapons Charge For Falls Church Man

DULLES, VA — Transportation Security Administration officers at Washington Dulles International Airport found a loaded firearm among a Falls Church's man carry-on bags at a security checkpoint on Monday.

The X-ray unit at the airport notified TSA officers that they should search the man's carry-on bag. The officers found a .38 caliber handgun loaded with five bullets, according to TSA.

TSA notified the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police, which confiscated the firearm and cited the traveler on a weapons charge. The Falls Church man now faces civil penalties of up to $15,000.

“Travelers are responsible for the contents of their carry-on bags, so it is vitally important to know that you do not have anything illegal or prohibited inside,” said Scott T. Johnson, TSA’s federal security director for the airport. “To help ensure that there is nothing inside, it is a best practice to start with an empty bag. For example, if you don’t know what you may have thrown in your duffle bag last week, empty it completely and start to pack it from scratch before heading to the airport.”

Johnson noted that the summer continues to be the TSA's busiest on record.

"I commend our officers for remaining focused on the mission during this busy time," he said.

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 online for people traveling with firearms.

The handgun confiscated on Monday was the 15th gun stopped at a Dulles Airport security checkpoint in 2024. Last year, TSA officers prevented 24 handguns from being brought onto a flights leaving the airport.