TSA Stops Claysville Man With Loaded Handgun

July 31, 2024 5:07 am

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — (WPXI) – TSA officers prevented two guns from getting on planes at the Pittsburgh International Airport last week. A revolver was found in a woman’s backpack on Sunday. The Allegheny County Police Department says that woman is facing charges for carrying a firearm without a license. Now, TSA says a loaded handgun was found in the carry-on of a Claysville man on Friday. “Since mid-June our officers have intercepted 10 firearms at our checkpoints here at Pittsburgh,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s federal security director for the airport. “Let’s be very clear about this. Firearms are not permitted past our security checkpoints. Period. Bringing a gun to a checkpoint means that travelers are introducing threats to the airport environment.” Passengers can travel with guns only in checked baggage if they are unloaded and packed in a hard-sided locked case. Then the locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. Civil penalties for bringing a weapon into a checkpoint can reach up to $15,000, depending on the specific weapon and the circumstances. So far in 2024, TSA officers have stopped 27 guns from getting on planes at Pittsburgh International Airport.