A Florida man was arrested by police after Transportation Security Administration officers at Newark Liberty International Airport detected a loaded pistol in his carry-on bag on Monday, May 6.
Officers found a .38 caliber revolver loaded with four bullets in a backpack, TSA officials.
After the handgun was detected by an checkpoint X-ray machine at the Terminal C checkpoint, Port Authority Police were called, confiscated the gun and arrested the man on a state weapons charge.
The man told authorities that he did not realize that he was traveling with his loaded gun in his carry-on bag.
In addition to arrest, he faces a federal financial civil penalty up to $15,000 for bringing a gun to a security checkpoint.
This is the third firearm TSA officers have detected at Newark Airport this year. Last year, 20 firearms were found in carry on luggage at the airport, TSA officials said.
Guns can be transported on a flight only when they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and declared to the airline.
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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @CommutingLarry
