MD Man's Loaded Handgun Detected By Reagan National Airport Security

ARLINGTON, VA — A Maryland man was stopped by security at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Monday with a loaded handgun in his carry-on bag, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

The gun was the 38th detected by TSA officers at Reagan National Airport in 2023, far surpassing the previous record of 30 guns confiscated at the airport in 2021.

The man, Maurice Delaney Hughes Jr., 46 of Rockville, had a .40 caliber gun loaded with 10 bullets when the TSA officers detected it. The man told officials he forgot he had the gun with him.

When the man entered the security checkpoint at Reagan National Airport, an X-ray unit alerted the TSA to take a closer look inside his carry-on bag. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police confiscated the gun and cited the man on a weapons charge, the TSA said.

“This gun was caught just three days after our officers removed three guns from carry-on bags in a single day — all during the busy holiday travel season,” said John Busch, TSA’s federal security director for Reagan National Airport. “This is the time of year that we expect to see travelers carrying gifts, cookies and cakes to our checkpoints, but what we’re seeing are too many guns.”

“It’s inexcusable and disappointing to continue to see so many travelers carelessly bringing their firearms to checkpoints,” he said. “Responsible gun owners know where their guns are at all times.”

Passengers are only permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage. Firearms must be unloaded and then packed in a hard-sided locked case. The locked case must be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared, according to the TSA.

RELATED: 3 Men Stopped From Bringing Guns On Flights At Reagan National Airport