Man arrested at PHL Airport after TSA finds loaded gun in carry-on bag

A man was arrested after US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) found a loaded handgun in his carry-on luggage. 

In a press release published on December 10, 2024, the TSA said the weapon was a .38 caliber revolver, loaded with six bullets along with an additional nine bullets. The gun was detected on December 9, 2024, when an X-ray machine at the security checkpoint alerted a TSA officer.  

Police arrived at the scene, confiscated the gun from the passenger, and arrested him on a weapons charge. The passenger is also facing a Federal financial penalty that is likely to run into the thousands of dollars, the TSA statement added. 

“It is disappointing to continue to see travelers bring their firearms to our checkpoints,” said Gerardo Spero, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the PHL Airport. “Loaded guns represent a threat because the intention of the traveler is unknown. If you own a firearm, please do not bring it to a checkpoint.” 

Spero added that the “proper way” to travel with an authorized gun “is to make sure it’s unloaded, packed in a hard-sided locked case and taken to the airline check-in counter.”  

“The airline will ensure it is transported in the belly of the aircraft so that nobody has access to it during a flight,” he said. 

According to TSA regulations, bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty. These penalties can stretch into thousands of dollars, based on the situation. Additionally, the rule applies to every passenger with or without concealed gun carry permits. 

So far in 2024, TSA officers have already found 38 firearms at the checkpoint at PHL Airport. The post Man arrested at PHL Airport after TSA finds loaded gun in carry-on bag appeared first on AeroTime.

Go to Source