Loaded gun found at Pittsburgh International Airport security checkpoint

Transportation Security Administration officers confiscated a loaded 9 mm firearm Friday morning at Pittsburgh International Airport.

According to a release from the TSA, officers detected the weapon in a Pittsburgh woman’s carry-on bag after it was seen in an X-ray at the airport’s main security checkpoint. The gun was loaded with 10 bullets.

The release said the checkpoint lane came to a halt until police responded and the scene was cleared, delaying other travelers “during the peak travel time of the day.”

“Travelers need to pay more attention to the items that they have inside their carry-on bags,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s federal security director for the airport. “Travelers are responsible for the contents of their carry-on bags. In addition, responsible gun owners know where their firearms are at all times and they know not to bring them to a security checkpoint. Bringing guns to checkpoints is a serious security violation. This traveler can expect that TSA will issue her a costly federal civil penalty.”

Keys-Turner said early mornings are the busiest time of travel for the airport, and when illegal or prohibited items are brought to checkpoints, it slows down other travelers. Pittsburgh International Airport has been experiencing record-breaking traveler numbers this summer, and airport officials have urged early-morning travelers to arrive at the airport two to three hours before their flight.

To further address waiting times, the airport opened an alternate security checkpoint for travelers enrolled in the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program between 4 and 7 a.m. on weekdays earlier this month.

As of Saturday, the TSA has discovered 23 firearms at the Pittsburgh airport, which is on pace to nearly match last year’s count of 44.