TSA officers at Seattle

SEATTLE - Officers with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) found two loaded firearms and a BB gun in travelers’ carry-on luggage Thursday morning. All of the discoveries occurred in less than 90 minutes during routine screening at the airport’s security checkpoints.

The first firearm - a .45 caliber Smith & Wesson M&P handgun - was discovered at 8 a.m. in the carry-on bag of a 59-year-old male traveler ticketed for travel to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The gun was loaded with seven rounds of ammunition.

The second firearm discovery occurred at 8:20 a.m. when TSA officers discovered a 9 mm Sig Sauer P365 handgun loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition. The passenger, a 31-year-old female, was ticketed for travel to Nashville International Airport.

Finally, at 9:20 a.m., a BB gun was found in the carry-on bag of a travel headed to Kahului International Airport on the Island of Maui.

In each incident, TSA notified officers with the Port of Seattle Police Department who responded to the security checkpoint. A law enforcement officer removed the firearm from the X-ray tunnel and made contact with the travelers. What happens to the firearm and the travelers is up to the discretion of the airport law enforcement agency.

There is no indication any of the gun discoveries are linked. Each traveler was eventually permitted to continue to their flight.

“The spring break travel season at SEA is upon us and checkpoint operations are very busy. Despite the surge in travelers, I am personally grateful that TSA officers across the airport and across the country remain focused on their mission of screening one bag, one passenger at a time,” said TSA Federal Security Director for Washington Greg Hawko. “If you are traveling with a firearm, please take a few moments before you come to the airport to refresh your memory on the proper policies and procedures on how to pack your gun. Firearms should never be brought to the security checkpoint in carry-on luggage.”

So far in 2023, TSA officers at Sea-Tac Airport have detected 30 firearms in carry-on luggage. Nationwide, TSA officers have discovered more than 1,500 firearms to date and 93% of those have been loaded. In 2022, a total of 6,542 firearms were found in carry-on luggage at airports across the country and 89% of those were loaded.

In addition to potential criminal citations for bringing a firearm in carry-on luggage, TSA can levy a civil penalty again the traveler. Among the factors TSA considers when determining the civil penalty amount include whether the firearm was loaded and whether there was accessible ammunition. Even if a traveler has a concealed weapons permit, firearms are not permitted in carry-on luggage.

Individuals who violate rules regarding traveling with firearms will have Trusted Traveler status and TSA PreCheck® expedited screening benefits revoked for a period of time. The duration of the disqualification will depend upon the seriousness of the offense and if there is a repeated history of violations.

Firearms can be transported on a commercial aircraft only if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and placed in checked baggage. Any type of replica firearm is also prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be transported in checked luggage.

At the airport during the check-in process, a passenger needs to go to the airline ticket counter to declare the firearm, ammunition and any firearm parts. Prior to traveling, passengers are encouraged to check gun laws and regulations at their destination to ensure they are in compliance with local and state laws. TSA also recommends travelers check with their airline prior to their flight to ensure they comply with any airline-specific requirements.

TSA has additional traveler information specifically related to the transportation of firearms and ammunition. A full summary of TSA’s civil penalties for prohibited items is also available.

TSA reminds passengers to be aware of the contents of their carry-on bag prior to coming to the security checkpoint. TSA has multiple resources available to passengers to help them determine whether an item is permitted in carry-on baggage, checked baggage or not at all.

Travelers can use the “Can I Bring” feature on the TSA website or on the TSA mobile app, myTSA. Travelers can also Tweet or Message “@AskTSA” if they have a travel question or are unsure if an item is allowed through security in a carry-on bag. Just snap a picture or send a question and get real-time assistance daily from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT.