WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — A Georgia man was arrested after TSA screeners discovered he was attempting to board a flight at Westchester County Airport (HPN) with a loaded handgun, federal officials announced.
TSA prevented the passenger from carrying his loaded handgun onto a flight on Sunday. The 9mm handgun was loaded with seven bullets, including one in the chamber, the Homeland Security agency said.
A TSA officer spotted the handgun on the checkpoint X-ray machine’s monitor as the man’s belongings were being screened. TSA immediately alerted Westchester County police, who confiscated the gun and detained the man for questioning before arresting him. The passenger also faces a federal financial civil penalty for bringing a gun to an airport security checkpoint.
It was the third handgun that TSA officers have stopped at the HPN airport checkpoint so far this year.
"Bringing a loaded handgun to a TSA security checkpoint is a serious matter," TSA Federal Security Director at Westchester County Airport Robert Duffy said. "Our officers are good at preventing prohibited items and deadly weapons from getting past the checkpoints and people who try to bring a gun onto a flight will face a federal civil penalty."
According to federal regulations, guns can be transported on a flight if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and declared to the airline. The airline will be sure that the gun travels with checked baggage in the belly of the plane, never in the cabin of the plane. Replica firearms are also prohibited in carry-on baggage and must also be transported in checked luggage.
Civil penalties for bringing a handgun into a checkpoint can cost thousands of dollars, depending on the circumstances. Among the factors TSA considers when determining the civil penalty amount, include whether the firearm was loaded and whether there was accessible ammunition.
Civil penalties apply 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.
Frequent flyers who violate rules regarding traveling with guns will have Trusted Traveler status and TSA PreCheck expedited screening benefits revoked.
The TSA is reminding passengers to always know the contents of their carry-on bag prior to coming to the security checkpoint.
Travelers can use the “Can I Bring?” feature on the TSA website or on the free downloadable myTSA app. Travelers can also Tweet or Message “@AskTSA” if they have a travel question or are unsure if an item is allowed through security in a carry-on bag. Just snap a picture or send a question and get real-time assistance weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.
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