PITTSBURGH — TSA agents stopped two guns from getting on planes at Pittsburgh International Airport on Tuesday.
Officials say the agents intercepted a Pittsburgh man’s loaded .32 caliber handgun and a Baden man’s loaded .40 caliber gun at two different checkpoints on Tuesday morning. TSA says the incidents are unrelated, and police confiscated both weapons.
“Our officers are good at their jobs, and they are focused on the mission,” said Gerardo Spero, TSA’s federal security Director for Pennsylvania. “Travelers are responsible for the contents of their carry-on bags and these men face a stiff federal financial civil penalty that could cost them thousands of dollars.”
When the firearms were found, checkpoint lanes were brought to a halt until police could retrieve the guns — delaying other travelers who were already in line.
These were the first two guns stopped at the airport in 2025. Last year, 42 guns were intercepted.
Passengers can travel with guns only in checked baggage if they are unloaded and packed in a hard-sided locked case. Then the locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm on its website.
Civil penalties for bringing a weapon into a checkpoint can reach up to $15,000, depending on the specific weapon and the circumstances.
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