Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Pittsburgh International Airport intercepted handgun at the main security checkpoint on Monday, October 14. The .38 caliber firearm, which was loaded, was detected inside the man’s carry-on bag.
When TSA officers detected the firearm, the checkpoint lane came to a halt until the police responded and removed the carry-on bag from the X-ray machine. Police confiscated the firearm, which belonged to a man from Washington, Pa. Meanwhile, other travelers who were in line were forced to wait until the incident was cleared, delaying them from getting through the checkpoint and to their gate during the peak travel time of the day.
“Responsible owners of a firearm always know where their gun is and they know not to bring it to an airport checkpoint,” said Donald Weston, TSA’s Acting Federal Security Director for the airport. “If you must travel with your firearm, the proper way to do it 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.” TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.