TSA Catches Two Loaded Guns At MSP In One Day, Warns Travelers Of Harsh Penalties

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Two passengers were caught Tuesday trying to bring loaded guns through security at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The firearms were found in separate incidents when the passengers presented their carry-on bags for screening. TSA officers alerted MSP Airport Police, who responded and confiscated both weapons.

"With our summer travel season underway, we strongly encourage passengers to pack smart and start with an empty bag," said Marty Robinson, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Minnesota.

"Bringing a firearm to the checkpoint is a careless, expensive mistake that increases risks to passengers and airport employees. Individuals who own firearms should familiarize themselves with regulations regarding where their weapons can and cannot be carried."

So far in 2025, TSA officers have stopped 22 firearms at MSP checkpoints. In all of 2024, a total of 52 firearms were intercepted.

Passengers who bring guns to TSA checkpoints face federal civil penalties. The amount is determined based on the circumstances of each case, and violators also lose TSA PreCheck eligibility for at least five years.

Firearms can be transported in checked luggage if they are unloaded, secured in a locked hard-sided case, and declared at the airline check-in counter. TSA also urges travelers to check firearm laws in both their departure and arrival locations, and to review any additional airline-specific rules.

More details about how to travel with firearms are available on the TSA’s website.