Firearm discovered by TSA officers at Detroit Metropolitan Airport

Local Press Release
Monday, July 20, 2020

DETROIT - Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stop a female passenger from bringing a loaded firearm through a security checkpoint at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) checkpoint Thursday. 

At approximately 5:18 p.m., during the x-ray of the female passenger’s carry-on bag, a Glock 26-9mm firearm was found with seven rounds of ammunition. TSA officers contacted airport police who confiscated the firearm and the ammo. The Michigan woman was subsequently cited and arrested by local law enforcement.

“Our highly trained TSA officers continue to intercept firearms and other dangerous items prior to making it onboard our flights,” said Steve Lorincz, TSA’s Federal Security Director Detroit Field Office. “The officers work around the clock and are our first line of defense in keeping our passengers and crews safe at our airports. Well done to the officers and law enforcement involved.”

Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared at check-in. Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-sided case, locked, and packed separately from ammunition. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality.

This is the 13th firearm detected by TSA officers at DTW security checkpoints in 2020. A total of 47 firearms were detected there last year.

Those who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to possible criminal charges. In addition, TSA has the authority to assess civil penalties of up to $13,333 for weapons violations. A typical first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100. The complete list of penalties is posted online. Guns are prohibited items in airports and in the passenger compartments of airplanes, even with state-issued concealed firearm permits.

In addition to potential criminal charges, passengers who bring firearms to a checkpoint face civil penalties from TSA: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/civil-enforcement

For more information about TSA prohibited items, please follow these links:

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition

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