An Ohio woman was caught with a loaded handgun at Pittsburgh International Monday, the first to be confiscated in the airport this year.
TSA says agents found the gun inside her makeup bag, which was tucked away into her backpack that she carried to the security checkpoint.
The gun was a .380 caliber handgun that had six bullets in it. The woman allegedly told law enforcement she didn't realize she had the gun with her and claimed to believe she left it at home.
It was confiscated, and her local county sheriff will be petitioned to rescind her concealed carry permit, which is protocol for any firearm brought by a traveler to a checkpoint.
"Forgetting that you are carrying a loaded handgun is irresponsible," explains TSA Federal Security Director Karen-Keys-Turner, "Even if someone has a permit to carry, they still are not permitted to bring a gun onto a flight. This woman now faces a stiff financial civil penalty."
The penalty for an airport weapon's violation was recently increased to $15,000, which applies to travelers with or without a concealed carry permit.
The only time any traveler is permitted to travel with a firearm is if it's checked, unloaded, locked in a hard-sided case, and separate from any ammunition.
2022 recorded the lowest number of guns caught at Pittsburgh International Airport (excluding the 2020 pandemic year) with only 26 confiscated. Guns confiscated stop TSA lanes completely and delay travelers getting to their gates.
Pittsburgh International Airport TSA
Hopefully numbers continue to decrease this year, as the airport has been implementing electronic anti-firearm signage reminders at the checkpoint lines.
