TSA intercepts gun at Detroit Metropolitan Airport

Local Press Release
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
This handgun was detected by TSA officers in a passenger’s carry-on bag at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) on Aug. 9. (TSA photo)

DETROIT – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers prevented a handgun from making its way onboard an airplane at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) Monday.

At around 7 a.m., a TSA officer spotted the image of a handgun on the X-ray screen during the routine screening of carry-on luggage. TSA officials immediately alerted the Wayne County Airport Police. The firearm was not loaded. The traveler, a Detroit resident, was arrested.

 “Despite a steady increase in the number of travelers being screened each day, TSA is focused on its security mission and will remain vigilant to ensure that any type of security threat does not make it into the sterile area of the airport or onto an aircraft,” said Detroit’s TSA Federal Security Director Steve Lorincz.

TSA may impose civil penalties of up to $13,910 per violation per person. A typical first offense for carrying a loaded handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100. The complete list of civil penalties is on the TSA website. 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.

This is the 37th firearm detected at DTW this year. A total of 47 firearms were detected at DTW security checkpoints in 2019, and 44 last year.

 Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case and declared at the airline check-in counter. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should check for firearm laws in the jurisdictions they are flying to and from.

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.

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