This loaded handgun was detected by TSA officers in a passenger’s carry-on bag at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Sept. 18. (TSA photo)
DETROIT – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers detected and prevented two handguns making their way in the passenger cabin of airplanes over the weekend at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).
On Friday, Sept. 18. and again Sunday, TSA Officers detected loaded 9mm handguns in the carry-on bags of different travelers.
In both incidents, TSA officials immediately alerted the Wayne County Airport Police, and officers responded to the checkpoints and confiscated the weapons. The incidents were not related.
“Outstanding job by our TSA officers who prevented these two firearms from boarding planes this last weekend,” said Detroit’s TSA Federal Security Director Steve Lorincz. “Passengers are reminded to always know the location of their firearms and to please keep them in a secure location without bringing them to any airport security checkpoints.”
This is the 25th and 26th firearm detected at DTW security checkpoints in 2020. TSA officers detected a total of 47 at DTW last year.
TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns with them at a checkpoint. A typical first offense for carrying a loaded handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100 and can go as high as $13,669 depending on any mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, they are still not permitted to bring a firearm into the passenger section of the airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. If a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck™, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck™ privileges for a period of time.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage, if they are properly packed in a hardback, locked case, unloaded and declared at the airline check-in counter. Ammunition must be packed separately from the firearm. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality, so travelers should know the laws in the destination and arrival jurisdictions.
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.