A Jeannette man was stopped at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport’s security checkpoint over the weekend while trying to board a flight to Orlando with a loaded handgun, TSA officials announced Thursday.
A .380-caliber handgun loaded with six bullets was detected in the man’s carry-on bag, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
Westmoreland County Police confiscated the gun and detained the man for questioning before allowing him to return the weapon to his vehicle, TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said.
“That’s the first firearm in a long time there,” she said of the checkpoint at the Unity facility. “It’s not common at that airport.”
It was unclear if any charges resulted from the incident.
Passengers who bring firearms to a TSA checkpoint are subject to possible criminal charges, Farbstein said, noting travelers with concealed carry permits also are prohibited from bringing guns past checkpoints.
The TSA has the authority to assess civil penalties of up to $13,000, with a first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint typically resulting in a $3,900 penalty.
The TSA reports that 4,239 firearms were discovered in carry-on bags at checkpoints across the country last year, averaging about 11.6 firearms per day and representing an approximate 7% increase from the 3,957 detected in 2017. Of the firearms discovered at checkpoints last year, 86% were loaded and nearly 34% had a bullet in the chamber.
“Prohibited items happen every day,” Farbstein said of checkpoints. At a smaller airport like Arnold Palmer, she said, “It’s easy for people to run back and put the items in their car.”
But, she added, when the prohibited item is a firearm, “the checkpoint lane comes to a standstill until the police resolve the incident,” possibly causing a delay for travelers.
Details on how to properly travel with a firearm are posted at tsa.gov/traveler-information/firearms-and-ammunition. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.
