TSA officers intercepted a loaded .38 caliber handgun Monday at Pittsburgh International's main security checkpoint.
They say the gun was in the carry-on bag of man from Washington, PA.
Police confiscated the weapon, the 35th firearm of the year.
That puts the airport on track to tie last year's record of 44.
Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint can result in a civil penalty as high as $15,000.
“Responsible owners of a firearm always know where their gun is and they know not to bring it to an airport checkpoint,” said Donald Weston, TSA’s Acting Federal Security Director for the airport. “If you must travel with your firearm, the proper way to do it is to make sure it’s unloaded, packed in a hard-sided locked case and taken to the airline check-in counter. The airline will ensure it is transported in the belly of the aircraft.” TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.