Loaded Firearm Discovered At Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Checkpoint Wednesday Morning

The Transportation Security Administration discovered a loaded firearm at the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport checkpoint Wednesday morning. 

At approximately 5:30 a.m., a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun was detected in a passenger’s carry-on bag.

TSA immediately alerted airport police, who took possession of the bag and escorted the passenger out of the checkpoint area.

While firearms may be transported in checked baggage (provided they are declared to the airline, in a proper carrying case and unloaded), they are prohibited in carry-on bags.

TSA reminds passengers that it is important for them to thoroughly search their bags for any potential dangerous weapons or prohibited items before departing for the airport.

Officials said, "Security is the first concern of the TSA, and having these items in bags that are traveling with you on the aircraft is dangerous to other travelers and can be easily mistaken as an intentional attempt to bring a prohibited item onto an aircraft."  

“Passengers are responsible for the contents of bags they bring to the checkpoint,” said Mark Howell, TSA regional spokesperson. “Our advice is to look through bags thoroughly before coming to the airport to make sure there are no illegal or prohibited items.”

This is the third firearm detected by TSA officers at the CHA security checkpoint in 2019. A total of nine were detected there last year.

In addition to potential criminal charges, passengers who bring firearms to a checkpoint face civil penalties from TSA: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/civil-enforcement

For more information about the TSA prohibited items, please these links: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm