DULLES, Va. — TSA officers at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) have recovered 22 firearms so far this year, which is more guns than have been collected at Virginia-based airport in the last five years.
On Friday, Dec. 9, TSA officers collected the 22nd firearm of the year, preventing a Florida resident from bringing a loaded handgun on her flight. The 9mm handgun was loaded with eight bullets, including one in the chamber.
Officers caught the weapon as the woman entered the security checkpoint through the X-ray machine. The gun was discovered inside her carry-on bag.
TSA officials then notified the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police who confiscated the gun and cited the unidentified woman on a weapons charge. She told officials that she forgot that she was carrying her loaded gun.
“Our TSA officers continue to remain on top of preventing loaded firearms from entering the secure area of the airport,” said Scott T. Johnson, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “Forgetting that you are carrying a loaded firearm is a public safety concern, as it could accidentally be discharged. Responsible gun owners need to know where their firearm is at all times.”
Across the country, TSA officers found 5,972 firearms with passengers at checkpoints last year. Of the guns caught by TSA in 2021, around 86% were loaded.
At Dulles, 19 firearms were collected in both 2019 and 2021, 17 in 2018, 16 in 2017, and seven in 2020, according to TSA.
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