A woman at a Washington, D.C.-area airport made a serious mistake on Christmas Eve – she took a loaded handgun in her carry-on bag for a flight, the Transportation Security Administration said Tuesday.
The 9 mm handgun was found at a security checkpoint at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, never made it onto the plane, the TSA said. Fortunately, the situation was quickly and safely handled.
The agency did not identify the woman, who is from Bethesda, Maryland, in a news release.
The woman was cited by police on a weapons charge, and the gun, which was loaded with six rounds, was confiscated, it said.
She also faces a fine, which can go up to $15,000, the TSA said. It serves as a clear reminder that all travelers must follow strict gun safety laws at airports.
“This traveler was cited by the police and will likely receive a federal civil penalty of thousands of dollars,” John Busch, the TSA’s federal security director for the airport, said in a statement. “Responsible gun owners know where their guns are at all times and they know not to bring them to an airport checkpoint.”
The TSA also mentioned that this year is expected to set a record for the number of guns caught at checkpoints. More than 6,000 have been stopped nationwide this year, the agency said. Last year the number was 6,542.
Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.
