CLEVELAND — Officers from the Transit Security Administration seized handguns from passengers at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in two separate incidents over the weekend, the TSA announced Monday.
The first seizure came last Friday at around 4:15 p.m. Officers detected an unloaded gun inside a passenger's carry-on bag during an X-ray scan.
The second incident took place on Sunday at around 6:40 p.m., this time with officers finding a loaded handgun in the passenger's carry-on.
“As summer travel picks up and we continue to see elevated passenger volumes, incidents like this one can have a serious effect on our operations,” Ohio TSA Federal Security Director Don Barker said. “Bringing a firearm to a security checkpoint not only slows down the individuals in that lane, but it slows everyone in line behind them down and is a security and safety concern. Guns should never be brought to the security checkpoint in carry-on luggage.”
Cleveland police were called to the scene in both instances and seized the guns. The passengers in both of the separate incidents told officers they forgot or "didn't realize the firearms were in their bags," the TSA said.
According to the TSA, the guns were the 14th and 15th firearms seized at the Cleveland airport this year. Last year, a total of 38 guns were seized.
While the TSA penalty for bringing a firearm to a security checkpoint can be levied as high as $14,950, passengers are allowed to pack guns in a checked bag as long as they are declared at check-in, unloaded and packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case, the agency said.
"TSA determines the penalty amount for a violation based on the circumstances in each case," the agency said in a news release. "TSA will continue to revoke TSA PreCheck eligibility for at least five years for passengers caught with a firearm in their possession."