TSA Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Florida Man Stopped From Boarding Flight With Loaded Gun

The man was stopped after TSA officers spotted a .380 caliber handgun loaded with six bullets in the checkpoint X-ray machine.

A Florida man was prevented from boarding a flight at Raleigh County Memorial Airport after a loaded gun was discovered in his baggage.

The man was stopped after TSA officers spotted a .380 caliber handgun loaded with six bullets in the checkpoint X-ray machine.

Local police responded to the airport.

The man was allowed to return the gun to his vehicle but faces potential fines for bringing a loaded weapon into the airport.

Passengers are required to check with their airline for requirements for traveling with guns. Guns must be properly packed in checked luggage and declared at the airline check-in counter to be transported in the cargo area of the aircraft.

The penalty for bringing weapons to the airport can reach as high as $15,000 and can even result in jail time.

For more information on how to properly travel with a firearm visit the TSA’s website.

TSA Agents Sound Alarm About Guns In Carry-On

West Virginia International Yeager Airport officials are reporting an increase in the number of guns found in carry-on bags during TSA checkpoint screening.

On Wednesday, July 5th, Yeager Transportation Security Administration agents discovered the eighth firearm this year in a passenger’s carry-on luggage.

Last year Yeager TSA agents only found six guns for the whole year. This is the most firearms the airport has seen in five years.

According to the TSA, the gun discovered Wednesday was packed with two gun magazines loaded with a total of 11 bullets. The owner, a Putnam County man, was cited on a weapons charge and faces a stiff federal financial civil penalty for bringing his gun to the checkpoint.

Chief of Police at West Virginia International Yeager Airport, Eric Johnson, said he is deeply concerned about what he considers a high number of firearms discovered during screening at the TSA checkpoint.

“The fact that we have already encountered eight firearms at the TSA checkpoint this year is extremely alarming,” Johnson said. “It is imperative that passengers understand the gravity of this issue and strictly adhere to the TSA regulations in order to ensure the safety of everyone within the airport.”

Johnson said in addition to being dangerous, carrying guns in carry-on bags results in delays for passengers. Firearms by law must be packed properly in checked luggage and declared at the airline check-in counter to be transported in the belly of the aircraft.

He said passengers failing to declare guns or attempting to conceal them in carry on luggage face fines as high as $15,000 or even arrest.

“We urge the public to take these regulations seriously and play their part in maintaining a safe environment at West Virginia International Yeager Airport,” Johnson said. “The security of our passengers, employees, and the general public is our utmost priority, and we will continue to work diligently to ensure their well-being.”

For more information on TSA regulations and the list of prohibited items, please visit the TSA website at www.tsa.gov.

Loaded Gun Confiscated At Charleston Airport

A West Virginia man on Tuesday was caught trying to bring a loaded gun in his carry-on bag at Yeager Airport in Charleston, W.Va.

The federal Transportation Security Administration said the man told security he had forgotten he brought his 9 mm handgun to the airport.
He was detained, had his gun confiscated and was cited on weapons charges, according to a news release. The man’s name was not released but officials said he is from Huntington.
A typical fine for someone who brings a handgun to an airport checkpoint is $4,100, according to the TSA.
More than 4,000 firearms were found in carry-on bags at airport checkpoints last year. Two guns have been found by Yeager Airport so far this year.

TSA: Guns Found At W.Va. Airports Nearly Doubled In 2019

The federal Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday that the number of guns found at West Virginia airports nearly doubled last year.

The agency on Wednesday said officers stopped 18 firearms at airport checkpoints last year, up from 10 guns in 2018. The Tri-State Airport and Yeager Airport accounted for most of the weapons.

Travelers can be criminally charged or face civil penalties from the TSA for bringing guns to airport checkpoints.

Firearm permit holders can put their guns in checked bags if they follow TSA guidelines.

Nationally, the TSA found more than 4,000 firearms at airport checkpoints last year, which amounted to about 12 per day. Nearly all the firearms were loaded.

W.Va Airport Detects Loaded Handgun in Man’s Belongings

A man from Washington state has been caught with a loaded handgun at a West Virginia airport.

The Transportation Security Administration says in a news release TSA officers spotted the handgun Saturday at Tri-State Airport near Huntington.

The statement says the 9 mm handgun loaded with 15 bullets was with the man’s belongings that entered an X-ray machine. TSA officers contacted airport police, who confiscated the gun and detained the Sultan, Washington, man for questioning.

It marked the seventh gun detected at the airport’s checkpoint this year.