By: Yuritza Arroyo
Police arrested a Delaware County, PA., man on Thanksgiving after Transportation Security Administration officers stopped him with a loaded handgun in his carry-on bag in Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport.
According to TSA, the man, a resident of Newtown Square, PA., was the third individual arrested by police this month in Newark after TSA officers detected guns among the accessible property of each of the three individuals.
Officials say the 9 mm handgun caught yesterday was loaded with 13 bullets, including one in the chamber.
It marked the 14th gun caught at one of the airport checkpoints so far this year and tied the record for the most guns caught at the airport in a single year, with an entire month remaining in 2022.
Police say a TSA officer detected this handgun in a traveler’s carry-on bag at one of the security checkpoints at Newark Liberty International Airport on Thanksgiving. (TSA photo)
“Getting caught with and arrested for carrying a loaded gun at our airport means this individual had a pretty bad Thanksgiving,” said Thomas Carter, TSA Federal Security Director for New Jersey.
“Our TSA officers are on the job this busy holiday weekend so that others can reach their destinations safely and spend the holiday with their family and friends.
Our team is staying vigilant and focused on the mission to help ensure that prohibited items are not carried onto a flight. This man was arrested, and he now faces a stiff federal financial civil penalty that could run into thousands of dollars.”
According to officials, bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty because TSA reserves the right to issue a civil liability to travelers with guns and gun parts at a checkpoint.
Officials say this applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an airplane.
Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.
Last year TSA officers detected 5,972 guns at security checkpoints nationwide, and 86 percent were loaded.