PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A flight attendant was arrested last week at the Philadelphia International Airport while attempting to bring a loaded firearm on a plane.
The Transportation Safety Administration says the attendant, from Arizona, attempted to pass through one of the security checkpoints Friday with a loaded .380 caliber handgun.
The attendant was arrested and is facing criminal charges.
In addition to criminal charges, people who attempt to illegally bring firearms through checkpoints face a civil penalty that can reach as high as $15,000.
TSA also says in late August, a Philadelphia man who works at a retail shop in the airport was arrested after attempting to bring a loaded 9mm handgun through a checkpoint in a carry-on bag.
Officials say he lost his certification to work at the airport.
As of Monday, TSA says they have intercepted 31 people attempting to bring a firearm through security checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport. Since 2017, officials say they have stopped at least 20 people a year attempting to bring guns through checkpoints. Last year they stopped 44 people, a five-year high.
Airport officials declined to connect for comment.