NORFOLK, Va. — Security officers at Norfolk International Airport stopped a Norfolk resident from bringing his loaded handgun onto a flight Tuesday, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The .38 caliber revolver, loaded with five bullets, was caught when the man entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit detected the firearm in the carry-on bag, which officers further inspected.
The gun was removed by local police, and the man now faces a weapons charge. He also faces an unspecified civil penalty for bringing a gun to a TSA security checkpoint. Fines for carrying weapons can reach as high as $15,000 depending on the circumstances.
The case will be forwarded to the Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney for possible criminal prosecution.
“The gun was packed in a hard-sided gun case, but it was loaded and was intercepted at the checkpoint by our TSA officers,” said Robin Burke, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “Had the gun been unloaded and declared at the airline check-in counter to be transported with checked baggage in the belly of the plane, there would have been no issue.”
Passengers are allowed to travel with guns in checked baggage. The firearm must be unloaded and packed in a hard-sided locked case. The gun must also be declared at the airline check-in counter. Even if a traveler has a concealed carry permit, that does not allow them to bring a gun onto an airplane.
More information on how to safely travel with a firearm is available on TSA's website.
In 2023 TSA officers stopped a record number of 29 guns at Norfolk International Airport checkpoints. As of Tuesday, TSA has caught three in 2024.
