CLEVELAND — The Transportation Security Administration arrested a man after finding a loaded handgun at a Cleveland Hopkins International Airport checkpoint on Friday morning.
Around 6 a.m., TSA detected a loaded Zigana PX9 9mm handgun inside of a passenger's carry-on bag, authorities said.
TSA then alerted airport police, who confiscated the bag and escorted the passenger out of the checkpoint area.
Firearms are permitted to be transported in checked baggage as long as they are declared to the airline, in a proper case and unloaded—but are prohibited in carry-on bags.
The man now faces criminal charges as well as civil penalties from TSA.
TSA issued the following statement regarding the firearm found in the baggage Friday:
TSA would like to remind passengers that it is important for them to thoroughly search their bags for any potential dangerous weapons or prohibited items before departing for the airport.
Security is the first concern of the TSA, and having these items in bags that are traveling with you on the aircraft is dangerous to other travelers and can be easily mistaken as an intentional attempt to bring a prohibited item onto an aircraft.
