Photo: File/Getty Images KAREN BLEIER / Staff
CLEVELAND – Transportation Security Administration officers prevented a passenger from bringing a loaded handgun on board a plane at a Cleveland Hopkins International Airport checkpoint.
The incident occurred this morning just after 7:30 a.m. at the TSA Precheck lane. The passenger was stopped by TSA officers with a loaded Seecamp .380 caliber handgun.
TSA officers detected the gun as the man was passing through the airport checkpoint. The TSA officer who was staffing the checkpoint X-ray machine detected the firearm as it passed along the conveyor belt inside the man’s carry-on bag. TSA officers immediately contacted the Cleveland Police Department, which responded to the checkpoint.
To date, TSA officers have detected eight firearms at CLE checkpoints this year. TSA found 19 firearms at CLE last year.
There is a right way to travel with a firearm and a wrong way. The wrong way is to bring it to a checkpoint. Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed in a hard-side case, locked, and packed separately from ammunition. Then the firearm must be taken to the airline check-in counter.
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm on TSA.gov. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition so travelers should contact their airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies.
The Transportation Security Administration screens more than 2 million passengers and their luggage every day for prohibited items, including weapons and explosives. To do this, TSA uses imaging technology to safely screen passengers for any items which may be concealed under clothing, while X-ray units screen all carry-on baggage.