MINNEAPOLIS — An airline employee was stopped at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) last week after a loaded handgun was found in their luggage.
A press release from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said the traveler was selected for a random screening on Thursday. That's when TSA said security officers located a handgun in their luggage through X-ray.
Airport police responded to the checkpoint, reporting the handgun was loaded.
“Our officers are focused on ensuring that firearms and other weapons do not make it through our security checkpoints,” said TSA Federal Security Director for Minnesota Marty Robinson, in a statement. “I’m grateful that our officers here and nationwide remain vigilant during this busy travel season. Firearms should never be brought to the security checkpoint in carry-on luggage, and airline employees should certainly be aware of that.”
A spokesperson for MSP Police said the person involved is an employee of SkyWest, which operates Delta Connection-branded flights.
In a statement Tuesday afternoon, a SkyWest representative told KARE 11:
We’re aware that a weapon was found in an employee’s luggage at a Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport security checkpoint last week. The employee had a permit for the weapon but failed to follow TSA checked bag procedures. We are conducting an internal review of the incident.
Per the public police report, the person accused was arrested, booked and released with a citation. Court records show the airline employee is scheduled for their first court appearance on Jan. 8.
The TSA said the latest incident marked the 49th firearm found at MSP this year. In various checkpoints across the country, security officials said they've recovered 5,072 firearms this year, a number they still expect to rise considerably, eclipsing last year's count of 6,542.
Passengers who commit firearm violations can be fined up to nearly $15,000 and have their TSA PreCheck eligibility revoked for up to five years.
If you're interested in learning more about the TSA's requirements for traveling with a firearm and ammunition, click here.
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