BWI airport worker arrested with gun at security checkpoint

BALTIMORE — Transportation Security Administration agents stopped a BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport employee from bringing a loaded handgun into the airport, the TSA said Tuesday.

The employee, who TSA said worked at a retail store, had a loaded 9mm handgun and eight bullets when he was stopped at the security checkpoint on his way to work .

Airport police were contacted, went to the checkpoint and confiscated the weapon.

The employee now faces firearms charges and had his identification badge confiscated at the airport. He also faces a possible federal civil financial citation, which could cost thousands of dollars, according to the TSA.

The agency said the incident was the 21st firearm detected by BWI agents so far this year. Last year, 42 weapons were intercepted.