Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) intercepted a gun from an air carrier contractor on Saturday, Jan. 25. The 9mm handgun was loaded with 12 bullets, including one in the chamber.
It was the third firearm that TSA officers have detected so far this month at one of the checkpoints. Last year TSA officers intercepted 42 guns at the airport’s checkpoints, the most of any airport in the state.
“This is an instance where our TSA officers stopped what could have been an insider threat, someone who was approved to have access to secure areas of the airport,” explained Gerardo Spero, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Pennsylvania. “This individual’s airport credentials have been confiscated and deactivated, without which he cannot work at the airport.”
“Everyone who wants access to the secure side of the airport is responsible for the contents of their carry-on bags. That includes everyone from travelers to airport, airline and concession employees and contractors,” he added.
The original announcement can be found here.