A female passenger was stopped from carrying a firearm onto a T.F. Green Airport plane by Transportation Security Administration officers April 6.
According to an April 7 TSA news release, the .380 firearm, as well as two magazines totaling 18 rounds, were detected in the passenger's carry-on luggage. While the Connecticut resident had a firearm permit, she had failed to declare the firearm to TSA. Eventually, she was cleared by security and allowed to proceed to her flight.
“Our TSA officers continue to do an outstanding job preventing firearms from entering the secure area of the airport. Passengers who are traveling with firearms need to ensure they are properly packed in their checked baggage," said TSA's Federal Security Director for Rhode Island Daniel Burche. “When an individual shows up at a checkpoint with a firearm, it can slow or shut down security screening until the police resolve the incident.”
TSA states that in 2021, it detected two firearms at T.F. Green Airport. In 2020, officials detected four.
Therelease reveals TSA may issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and their components with them at checkpoints. A typical first offense is $4,100 and can increase as high as $13,669 depending on mitigating circumstances.
