FL Man Tries To Take Loaded Handgun On Flight At Stewart: TSA

NEW WINDSOR, NY — A Florida man faces a federal civil penalty, and more, after being accused of trying to carry a loaded handgun onto a flight he was boarding at New York Stewart International Airport.

Transportation Security Administration officers prevented the man from getting on the plane Sunday after the handgun was spotted on the checkpoint X-ray machine's monitor, according to a TSA spokeswoman.

The officer saw the gun, which was loaded with seven bullets including one in the chamber, as the man's belongings entered the X-ray unit.

The TSA immediately alerted the New York State Police who responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the gun and arrested the man, who was not identified.

Robert Duffy, TSA's federal security director for the airport, said this was the second gun this month that was detected at Stewart.

"Our officers are highly proficient at detecting guns and prohibited items from getting past the checkpoints and people who try to bring a gun onto a flight will pay a stiff price," he said. "The civil penalty will be costly. If you own a firearm, pack it correctly for transport in checked baggage or leave it at home."

Patch reached out to a state police spokesman for more information about the Florida man but did not immediately receive a response.

On July 5, a Poughkeepsie resident told officials he had forgotten he had his loaded gun with him after a TSA officer spotted the weapon on the checkpoint X-ray machine's monitor at Stewart.

The TSA said guns can be transported on a flight if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and declared to the airline. The airline will be sure that the gun travels with checked baggage in the belly of the plane, never in the cabin of the plane.

Additionally, replica firearms also are prohibited in carry-on baggage and also must be transported in checked luggage.

Civil penalties for bringing a handgun into a checkpoint can cost thousands of dollars, depending on the circumstances, including whether the firearm was loaded and whether there was accessible ammunition.

People who violate rules regarding traveling with guns will have Trusted Traveler status and TSA PreCheck expedited screening benefits revoked for a period of time.

The TSA has additional traveler information specifically related to the transportation of firearms and ammunition posted on its website. A full summary of TSA’s civil penalties for prohibited items is also available online.