Pennsylvania Airport Officials Block Woman From Carrying Loaded Gun On Plane

The TSA successfully stopped a Greensburg woman from bringing a loaded gun on board a flight at Pittsburgh International Airport on Friday.

It happened at a security checkpoint, where officers caught her with a loaded 9mm handgun with six bullets and one in the chamber, WPXI and TribLive reported.

This is the 12th weapon captured at airport checkpoints so far in 2024, while the TSA captured 44 weapons at Pittsburgh International Airport last year.

“I would like to thank the TSA officers who took action to ensure that the woman did not maintain control of her loaded gun inside the terminal,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA Federal Security Director for the airport. “The fact that there is a bullet in the chamber is an accident waiting to happen.” Responsible gun owners know where their firearms are at all times and know not to bring one in their carry-on luggage.

Passengers are allowed to travel with firearms only in checked baggage if they are unloaded and packed in a locked hard suitcase.

The file must then be submitted to the airline check-in counter to be declared. The TSA posts details on how to properly travel with a firearm on its website.

Civil penalties for bringing a weapon to a checkpoint can be up to $15,000, depending on the weapon and the circumstances.

This applies to travelers with or without a concealed carry permit, because although a person may have a concealed carry permit, it does not permit carrying a firearm on an airplane.