CLEVELAND — Agents with the Transportation Security Administration discovered a handgun in a passenger's carry-on bag Friday morning at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
TSA officials say the 9mm handgun was loaded. Agents immediately alerted airport police, who took possession of the bag and escorted the passenger out of the checkpoint area.
This is the ninth firearm detected by TSA officers at CLE security checkpoints in 2019. A total of 23 were detected there last year.
While firearms may be transported in checked baggage (provided they are declared to the airline, in a proper carrying case and unloaded), they are prohibited in carry-on bags. In addition to potential criminal charges, passengers who bring firearms to a checkpoint face civil penalties from TSA.
"Passengers are responsible for the contents of bags they bring to the checkpoint,” said Mark Howell, TSA Regional Spokesperson in a statement. “Our advice is to look through bags thoroughly before coming to the airport to make sure there are no illegal or prohibited items.”
