TSA Officers Intercept Two Guns at Reagan National Airport During Memorial Day Travel Rush

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport intercepted two firearms on consecutive days during one of the busiest periods in TSA history. The incidents occurred last week and were unrelated.

On Thursday, May 23, TSA officers discovered a .40 caliber handgun loaded with 14 bullets, including one in the chamber. The firearm belonged to a man from Alexandria, Virginia, who claimed he had forgotten the loaded weapon was in his possession. The following day, Friday, May 24, officers intercepted a .380 caliber handgun loaded with seven bullets, including one in the chamber. This weapon was owned by a traveler from Florida.

In both instances, the firearms were found among the travelers' carry-on items. Metropolitan Airports Authority Police were notified and responded by confiscating the weapons and citing each individual on a weapons charge. It's important to note that while TSA officers detect firearms, it is law enforcement officers who confiscate them.

"It has been a very busy Memorial Day holiday travel period here and across the country," said John Busch, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. "Our officers are good at their jobs and even with sky-high checkpoint volume, they remain alert and vigilant in screening individuals who are arriving at our checkpoints."

Travelers found with firearms face significant penalties. Guns are not permitted through security checkpoints, and offenders can be fined up to $15,000. Furthermore, carrying a firearm into an airport checkpoint can result in the loss of TSA PreCheck® privileges, even for those with concealed carry permits.

Busch emphasized the importance of travelers being aware of their belongings, particularly during high-traffic periods. "Travelers need to pay more attention to the items that they have inside their carry-on bags," he said. "Bringing a firearm to one of our checkpoints on days that we were setting records for the highest checkpoint volume in our agency’s 22-year history was not only careless but slowed down the security screening process for other travelers."

The TSA continues to provide detailed guidelines on how to travel with firearms on its website. As of May 27, 2024, TSA officers at Reagan National Airport have intercepted 18 firearms this year.