2 Men Prevented From Bringing Guns On Flights At Reagan National

ARLINGTON, VA — Security officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport prevented a Fredericksburg man and a Tennessee man from bringing guns on their flights over the past five days, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

On Sunday, the Fredericksburg man tried to bring his 9mm handgun onto his flight. The man told officials that he forgot that he had his gun with him, TSA said. Last Thursday, the Tennessee man was prevented by TSA officers from carrying his loaded .380 caliber handgun onto his flight at Reagan National Airport.

Each weapon was caught as the men entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit issued an alerted about the carry-on bags, which were searched, and the firearms removed by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police, who confiscated the guns and cited each man on weapons charges.

READ ALSO: Here's How Many Guns TSA Seized So Far In 2022 At DC's 3 Airports

So far in 2023, TSA officers have prevented a total of five guns from being brought on airplanes leaving Reagan National Airport.

In 2022, officers confiscated 29 guns from passengers who trying to bring them onto flights at Reagan National Airport, according to TSA. A record 30 guns were confiscated by TSA officers at the airport in 2021.

In addition to the citation by airport police, the two men face a financial civil penalty for carrying a weapon that was recently increased to a maximum of $15,000, TSA said.

Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms only in checked baggage if they are unloaded and packed in a hard-sided locked case. The locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared.