Expand / Collapse search
☰

Four handguns - 3 of which were loaded - intercepted at Chicago airports this week

By FOX 32 Digital Staff
Published  June 10, 2022 12:06pm CDT
O'Hare International Airport
FOX 32 Chicago

TSA intercepts 4 guns in four days at Chicago airports

TSA is reminding travelers to leave their guns at home after four weapons were confiscated at Chicago airports this week.

CHICAGO - Authorities recovered four handguns - three of which were loaded - in four days from carry-on bags at O’Hare and Midway airports this week, according to TSA.

Officers screening carry-on bags at security checkpoints detected the firearms on X-ray and contacted Chicago police, the TSA said in a statement.

"Let me be clear: Guns are never allowed in carry-on luggage. Bringing a firearm to the checkpoint can have serious consequences and endangers other passengers," said Dereck Starks, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Illinois.

SUBSCRIBE TO FOX 32 CHICAGO ON YOUTUBE

The incidents occurred:

  • Sun. June 5 at a Midway checkpoint. The gun was loaded with a round chambered;
  • Tues. June 7 at an O'Hare checkpoint. The gun was unloaded;
  • Weds. June 8 at an O'Hare checkpoint. The gun was loaded with a round chambered; and
  • Weds. June 8 at a Midway checkpoint. The gun was loaded.

This handgun was detected by TSA officers in a passenger's carry-on bag at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on June 7. (TSA photo)

Criminal charges may be filed against each of the individuals, TSA said. A typical first offense for carrying a loaded handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100. If a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges for a period of time.

Officers have found 54 guns at security checkpoints at both airports so far this year, the TSA said. Last year, a total of 133 guns were found during screenings.

Passengers are allowed to travel with firearms in checked baggage as long as they're unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case and declared at the airline check-in counter.