Loaded Handgun Found In Carry-On Items At National Airport Checkpoint

ARLINGTON, VA — An Alexandria man is facing a federal weapons charge after bringing a loaded firearm to a security checkpoint at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Tuesday.

Transportation Security Administration officers discovered a .380 caliber firearm loaded with seven bullets among the man’s carry-on items, according to TSA.

Washington Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police confiscated the handgun and ammunition, issuing a criminal citation to the Alexandria man. He now faces potential penalties of up to $15,000, according to TSA.

“This was the fourth firearm that our officers have intercepted at one of our checkpoint lanes this month,” said John Busch, TSA’s federal security director for the airport. “If you own a firearm, it is vitally important that you always know where it is and you know that it is not among the items in your carry-on bag when you come to an airport. That is part of being a responsible gun owner. There is no excuse for bringing a loaded gun to a checkpoint because you will not be permitted to carry it with you onto the plane. Not if you have a permit to carry. Not if you are enrolled in TSA PreCheck. Not ever.”

People are allowed to travel with their handguns, but the handguns must be properly stored in their checked baggage and declared at check-in. In addition, handguns must be stored unloaded in a hard-locked case, with ammunition stored separately. The hard-locked case must be brought to the airline check-in window, where it will be checked with the traveler's baggage. TSA has more information available online or people traveling with firearms.

TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. To transport a firearm for a flight, it must be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided case and declared at the airline counter so it can be placed in the belly of the aircraft with the checked baggage.

Including the handgun found on Wednesday,TSA officers have detected a total of 33 firearms at Washington National in 2024. Thirty-nine firearms were stopped at the airport in 2023, which was 10 more than the previous year.