Loaded Handgun Found in Passenger’s Carry-on Bag at Birmingham Airport
Posted by jhingarat21 on 19th Aug 2015
TSA found this loaded Beretta in a passenger’s carry-on bag.
Authorities discovered a loaded handgun at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport checkpoint this afternoon and escorted the would-be passenger away from the area.
The Transportation Security Administration found the Beretta .25 caliber handgun in a passenger’s carry-on bag about 2 p.m., according to a TSA press release. TSA called airport police who took possession of the bag and escorted the passenger out of the checkpoint area.
Birmingham police said no arrests were made.
TSA authorities said this is the 12th time this year a gun has been discovered at the checkpoint in Birmingham. There were 18 in all of 2014.
Authorities said guns can be transported in checked baggage as long as they are declared to the airline, in a proper carrying case and unloaded. They are, however, prohibited in carry-on luggage.
Passengers should thoroughly check their bags for any potential dangerous weapons or prohibited items before heading to the airport. “Passengers are responsible for the contents of bags they bring to the checkpoint,” TSA spokesman Mark Howell said in a prepared statement. “Our advice is to look through bags thoroughly before coming to the airport to make sure there are no illegal or prohibited items.”
In addition to potential criminal charges, passengers who bring firearms to a checkpoint face civil penalties from TSA.
