An Irwin woman is accused of attempting to bring a loaded handgun in her carry-on bag early Wednesday at Pittsburgh International Airport, the Transportation Security Administration said.
The woman, who wasn’t identified, was stopped by an officer who had spotted the gun in the checkpoint X-ray machine, the TSA said. Airport police confiscated the weapon, which was loaded with seven bullets, including one in the chamber.
She was cited and faces a possible federal fine for bringing a weapon to the airport checkpoint, the TSA said. The fine can be as much as $15,000, depending on the circumstances.
Bob Kerlik, a spokesman for the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which operates the airport in Findlay, could not be reached for comment.
It is the eighth handgun that TSA officers have confiscated at Pittsburgh International Airport this year, the agency said. Twenty-six guns were confiscated last year by security officers.
The TSA said firearms are not permitted through a security checkpoint because passengers should not have access to a firearm during a flight, regardless of whether they have concealed carry permits or are enrolled in the TSA PreCheck program.
