A Southwest Airlines pilot was arrested in Albany, New York, on Monday for trying to board his plane with a loaded handgun in one of his carry-on bags. TSA officers spotted the .380 caliber gun during a routine X-ray scan, the agency said in a news release. The gun was loaded with six bullets. The pilot said he was unaware the weapon was in the bag, a Southwest spokesperson said. He was taken into custody by the local sheriff and charged with criminal possession of a weapon. The pilot’s name was not released. The flight, bound for Chicago-Midway, was delayed for about four hours.
Firearms, firearm parts and ammunition are not permitted in carry-on bags, but they can be transported in checked bags if they are unloaded, properly packed and declared to the airline, according to the TSA. Travelers who bring firearms to a TSA checkpoint are subject to criminal charges from law enforcement and civil penalties from the TSA of up to $12,000, the TSA said.
