TSA intercepts firearm at Reagan National Airport security checkpoint

TSA officers at Reagan National Airport intercepted this gun at a TSA security checkpoint on November 13. (TSA photo)

ARLINGTON, Va. - Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport intercepted a firearm among a traveler's carry-on items at one of the checkpoints this morning. The Fredericksburg, Va., man was in possession of an unloaded 9mm pistol.

When TSA officers intercepted the firearm, they notified the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Police who responded to the checkpoint and confiscated the gun. The man now faces a Federal civil penalty for bringing a loaded firearm to a TSA checkpoint. The Federal penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.

"Bringing a gun to one of our checkpoints, even one that is not loaded, is prohibited," said John Busch, TSA's Federal Security Director for the airport. "I would like to acknowledge the TSA officers who took quick action and to the MWAA police officers who responded to the checkpoint and ensured that the man did not retain control of his gun," he said.

"People who own firearms need to be more cognizant of where and when they are carrying their weapon. It is no secret that guns cannot be carried by passengers into the TSA security checkpoint or onto an aircraft. However, they are allowed to be transported in checked baggage. If you own a firearm, it is critically important that you always know where it is, and you know that it is not among the items in your carry-on bag when you come to an airport. That is part of being a responsible gun owner," Busch said.

TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. To transport a firearm for a flight, it must be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided case and declared at the airline counter so it can be placed in the belly of the aircraft with the checked baggage.

TSA firearms caught at TSA checkpoints at Reagan National Airport, 2018 to 2024

Year	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024 (As of 11/13/24)
Guns caught at the Reagan National Airport checkpoints	16	14	10	30	29	39	35

Bringing a firearm to an airport checkpoint carries a Federal civil penalty because TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. Civil penalties for bringing a gun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating/aggravating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because a concealed carry permit does not allow a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. Additionally, if a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.

Unsure if an item should be packed in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither? Download the free myTSA app, which has a handy "What can I bring?" feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly. Or ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers may send a question by texting "Travel" to AskTSA (275-872).