NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – TSA officers at Newark Airport arrested a man after detecting a loaded handgun in his backpack during an x-ray scan on Saturday, officials said.
The incident took place at Terminal C and marked the 18 firearm detected at the airport in 2023, passing the previous high of 14 firearms detected in both 2018 and 2022.
The man from Canadensis, Pennsylvania, was carrying a 9mm handgun in his bag, according to officials.
Port Authority Police confiscated the gun and arrested the man on state weapons charges after interviewing him. His name was not released.
He might also face a federal civil fine of up to $15,000 for bringing the firearm to a security checkpoint.
In a statement, Thomas Carter, the TSA's federal security director for New Jersey, said there's an "epidemic" of guns appearing at checkpoints.
Carter emphasized the importance of travelers ensuring their carry-on bags are free of prohibited items before arriving at the airport.




