TSA intercepts another firearm at Pittsburgh International Airport

PITTSBURGH - Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Pittsburgh International Airport intercepted a loaded firearm at the main security checkpoint on Friday, July 19. The .45 caliber handgun was loaded with 10 bullets in the carry-on bag of a man from Kansas.

"I don't know how many times we have to continue to remind firearm owners that they should not bring their guns to our checkpoints, but what I can tell you is that we will continue to do so while educating travelers on the proper way a firearm needs to be packed for transport on a flight," said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA's Federal Security Director for the airport.

When TSA officers detected the firearm, the checkpoint lane came to a halt until the police responded and removed the carry-on bag from the X-ray machine. Police confiscated the firearm and cited the man on a weapons charge. Meanwhile, other travelers who were in line were forced to wait until the incident was cleared, delaying them from getting through the checkpoint and to their gate during the peak travel time of the day.

"Travelers need to pay much closer attention to the items that they have inside their carry-on bags," said Keys-Turner. "Passengers are responsible for the contents of their carry-on bags. This traveler can expect that TSA will issue him a costly Federal civil penalty."

Keys-Turner explained that the proper way to transport a firearm for a flight is to ensure it is unloaded; packed in a hard-sided locked case; and taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. The airline will make sure that the firearm is transported in the belly of the aircraft so that nobody has access to it during the flight. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.

Bringing a gun 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 weapon into a checkpoint can reach up to $15,000, depending on the specific weapon and the circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. This also applies to travelers who are enrolled in the TSA PreCheck® program, who will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges if they bring a gun to a checkpoint.

The complete list of civil penalties is posted online.

When a gun is detected in the checkpoint X-ray unit, the conveyor belt is stopped and the police are notified. Police remove the carry-on bag from the X-ray unit because TSA does not want its officers handling firearms. Police determine whether a traveler is arrested or issued a criminal citation. Meanwhile the remaining passengers in the checkpoint lane either wait for the issue to be resolved or they are shifted to another checkpoint lane, thus delaying dozens of passengers from getting to their gates.

TSA firearms catches at airport checkpoints at Pittsburgh International Airport, 2017 to 2024

Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and passengers should do their homework to make sure that they are not violating any local firearm laws. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.

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).