DAYTON — Transportation Security Administration agents discovered loaded handgun in a passenger’s carry-on bag at the Dayton International Airport Thursday, according to a TSA spokesperson.
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This was the sixth firearm detected at the Dayton International Airport this year, compared to only four firearms were detected all of last year, the spokesperson said in a media release Friday.
A TSA officer spotted the image of a handgun on the X-ray screen at around 4:45 a.m. TSA officials immediately notified Dayton Airport Police, the spokesperson said.
The passenger told investigators they forgot it was in the bag. The person who was found with the gun was not identified and it was not known if they are facing any charges.
TSA officials at Dayton International are reminding passengers guns are not allowed in carry-on luggage.
“Bringing a firearm to the checkpoint can have serious consequences and endangers other passengers,” said Donald Barker, Ohio TSA Federal Security Director. He also commended TSA officials for preventing firearms from entering.
“With summer travel ramping up, our TSA officers continue to do a fantastic job,” Barker said.
TSA said civil penalties may include a fine of close to $14,000, a typical first offense for carrying a loaded handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100.
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 travels are encouraged to check for firearm laws in the jurisdictions they are flying to and from.