Morristown Man Found With Loaded Gun At Newark Airport, TSA Says

MORRISTOWN, NJ — A trip to Newark Airport took a turn when a Morristown man was found carrying a loaded gun, the TSA announced.

Security officers intercepted the 9mm handgun—loaded with eight bullets—when the man entered a security checkpoint at the airport on Thursday, according to the TSA.

This marks the ninth firearm discovered at a TSA checkpoint in New Jersey so far in 2025, said Thomas Carter, the TSA’s federal security director for the state.

TSA officers alerted the Port Authority Police Department, whose officers confiscated the 9 mm handgun and arrested the man on a weapons charge, the agency said. According to the TSA, the federal penalty for bringing a firearm to a security checkpoint can reach up to $15,000, depending on the circumstances.

“An important part of being a responsible gun owner is knowing where your firearm is at all times and knowing that it cannot be carried into the cabin of an airplane,” Carter said.

Civil penalties are determined based on factors such as whether the firearm was loaded and the traveler’s access to ammunition. These penalties apply to all passengers, regardless of whether they have a concealed carry permit, according to the TSA.

The agency noted that firearms and replica guns are only permitted on flights if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case, and declared at the airline’s check-in counter. Ammunition and firearm parts must also be declared. The airline will then ensure the items travel in the aircraft’s checked baggage compartment—not in the cabin.