Man arrested at Detroit Airport with loaded gun on Thursday morning

For the second time in five days, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has stopped someone with a gun at a checkpoint at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.

Last week -- on May 8 -- a man was arrested after he was caught with a loaded 9 mm handgun by TSA officers as he was passing through the airport checkpoint. The TSA officer who was staffing the checkpoint X-ray machine spotted the handgun in the man’s bag as it passed along the conveyor belt. Wayne County Airport Police were contacted and responded to the checkpoint, where the man was arrested on a weapons charge.

The gun was loaded with five rounds. The man, a resident of Southfield, Mich., also had two loaded magazines with rounds in each magazine. He was originally ticketed to fly to LaGuardia Airport in New York.

Earlier that same week, on Sunday, May 4th, TSA officers caught an airport employee with a .38 mm gun in her bag as she was passing through the checkpoint to report to work at one of the gift shops in the airport.

As a reminder, weapons—including firearms, firearm parts and ammunition—are not permitted in carry-on bags, but can be transported in checked bags if they are unloaded, properly packed and declared to the airline. Passengers who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to possible criminal charges from law enforcement and civil penalties from TSA.

Passengers are responsible for the contents of bags they bring to the security checkpoint, and TSA’s advice to passengers is to look through bags thoroughly before coming to the airport to make sure there are no illegal or prohibited items.

Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packed and declared. Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-side case, locked, and packed separately from ammunition. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should familiarize themselves with state and local firearm laws for each point of travel prior to departure.

TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition. Travelers should also contact the airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies.

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The Transportation Security Administration was created to strengthen the security of the nation’s transportation systems and ensure the freedom of movement for people and commerce. TSA uses a risk-based strategy and works closely with transportation, law enforcement and intelligence communities to set the standard for excellence in transportation security.

For more information about TSA, please visit our website at tsa.gov.