Crime & Safety
3rd Loaded Gun Found In 5 Days At NoVA Airport
TSA stopped three travelers from bringing loaded handguns onto flights leaving Washington Dulles International Airport within five days.
DULLES, VA — For the third time in five days, Transportation Security Administration officers stopped a Virginia resident from bringing a loaded handgun onto a flight leaving Washington Dulles International Airport, according to authorities.
On Tuesday, TSA officers found a 9mm handgun loaded with eight bullets in the carry-on items of a Winchester man, according to a release. This came after TSA officers had detected a 9mm gun on Sunday and a .40 caliber gun on Thursday. Both of those firearms were also loaded.
In all three cases, officers from the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority Police were notified. They confiscated the firearm and issued criminal citations to each of the travelers.They each face a potential financial penalty of up to $15,000 for bringing a weapon to an airport checkpoint.
Find out what's happening in Restonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Related: Loaded Gun In Carry-On Bag Surprised Leesburg Traveler: TSA
“I am proud of the TSA officers who continue to focus on the mission and remain vigilant day after day,” said Eric Chin, TSA’s assistant federal security director for screening at the airport.
Find out what's happening in Restonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
TSA officers detected 29 firearms at Washington Dulles International Airport in 2024, which was five more than the 24 stopped in 2023. So far, TSA officers have stopped eight guns at Dulles Airport checkpoints in 2025.
Related: 2nd Loaded Gun In 3 Days Found In Carry-On Bag At Dulles Airport
“Our officers are vital to ensuring the security of the aviation system,” Chin said. “It’s unfortunate that we continue to see individuals bringing loaded guns to our checkpoints”. “Responsible gun owners know where their gun is at all times and they know not to bring one to a security checkpoint.”
How To Travel Legally With A Firearm
Passengers are allowed to travel with firearms only in checked baggage if they are unloaded and packed in a hard-sided locked case, with ammunition stored separately. Then the locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter, where it will be checked with the traveler's baggage.
The TSA has details online that explain how to properly travel with a firearm.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
