TSA stops woman with a gun at JFK International Airport on Halloween

TSA officers at JFK International Airport intercepted this loaded gun at a TSA security checkpoint on October 31. (TSA photo)

NEW YORK - Transportation Security Administration officers prevented a Brooklyn, N.Y., woman from bringing a gun onto her flight at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Thursday (October 31). The 9mm handgun was loaded with 10 bullets including one in the chamber.

When TSA officers intercepted the firearm, they notified the Port Authority Police who responded to the checkpoint and allowed the woman to hand off the firearm to a non-traveling companion. She 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 an airport security checkpoint on Halloween or at any time of the year is no joke," said John Essig, TSA's Federal Security Director for the airport. "Loaded guns are deadly weapons and present a threat. This individual had her firearm tucked into her shoulder bag. 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 onto an aircraft. 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."

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 JFK International Airport, 2018 to 2024

Year	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024 (As of 10/31/24)
Guns caught at the JFK International Airport checkpoints	9	3	9	7	15	9

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).