NORFOLK, Va. — Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Norfolk International Airport (ORF) stopped a Dumfries, Virginia man from bringing a loaded handgun onto his flight over the Memorial Day weekend.
Officers found the gun on Saturday, after the man went through the X-ray unit at the security checkpoint. The TSA said the 9mm gun was loaded with 15 bullets. It marks the 15th gun confiscated at ORF so far this year.
According to the TSA, police removed the gun and cited the man on state charges, who faces a penalty of up to $15,000. The Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney will investigate for possible criminal prosecution.
"The gun was in a hard-sided case, but it needed to be unloaded and then that case needed to be locked and taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared so that the airline representative could ensure that the firearm was transported in the belly of the plane where nobody would have access to it during a flight," said Robin "Chuck" Burke, who is TSA’s Federal Security Director for Norfolk International.
Passengers are only allowed to travel with firearms in checked baggage. To learn more on how to properly travel with a firearm, click here.