Virginia man cited by police after TSA intercepts loaded gun at Washington Dulles International Airport

This loaded firearm was detected by TSA officers at Washington Dulles International Airport on April 3. (TSA photo)

DULLES, Va. - A Leesburg, Va., man was cited by police after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) intercepted a firearm among his carry-on items on Thursday, April 3. The .40 caliber handgun was loaded with 12 bullets along with an additional seven accessible rounds.

The firearm was caught as the man entered the security checkpoint and the X-ray unit alerted on his carry-on bag. TSA officers identified the firearm inside the man's bag and notified the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police who confiscated the firearm and ammunition and cited the traveler.

"This individual told us that he did not know that his gun was among his carry-on items," said Eric Beane, TSA's Acting Federal Security Director for the airport. "An important part of being a responsible gun owner is knowing where your firearm is at all times. Telling us that you forgot that you had a loaded gun with you is an accident waiting to happen."

In addition to the citation by airport police, this individual now faces a stiff financial civil penalty. Civil penalties for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000. This even applies to travelers with concealed carry permits or are enrolled in the TSA PreCheck® program, who will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges if they bring a gun to a checkpoint.

TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.

Firearms caught by TSA at Washington Dulles International National Airport checkpoints, 2016 to 2025

Year	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025 As of 4/3/25
Guns caught at Washington Dulles International Airport checkpoints	24	19	17	19	7	19	25	24	29	6

Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty because TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. Civil penalties for bringing a gun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating circumstances. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. Additionally, if a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.

Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and passengers should do their homework to make sure that they are not violating any local firearm laws. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.

Unsure if an item should be packed in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither? Download the free myTSA app, which has a handy "What can I bring?" featurethat allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly. Or ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers may send a question by texting "Travel" to AskTSA (275-872).