Man Arrested After Loaded Gun Is Found In Carry-On Luggage At BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport
LINTHICUM, Md. (WJZ) -- A brief security concern at BWI-Marshall. A man tried bringing a loaded gun through security.
Adam May reports it's the latest in a string of violations.
That loaded gun confiscated over the weekend is symbolic of a greater problem. Hundreds of people are bringing guns and weapons to airport security checkpoints every year.
Sunday morning, police were alerted to a dangerous discovery at a security checkpoint at BWI: a 9 mm Glock handgun loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition and two additional magazines.
"Basically, he forgot the handgun was in his bag," said Sgt. Kirk Perez.
Michael Smith from Arlington, Va. was arrested, just the latest traveler caught with illegal items at the airport. In the last five weeks, agents across the country have seized dozens of weapons and guns, including three other loaded guns in just Baltimore.
"Unfortunately, they're not that uncommon," Perez said.
Despite these continued violations, the TSA is testing new programs that loosen screening practices on the elderly and frequent travelers. But even the elderly have broken the rules. Agents recently found a knife hidden inside a walker.
Smith is facing two charges: carrying a handgun and trying to bring an unauthorized weapon through airport security.
The pre-check program for frequent travelers isn't available in Baltimore yet, but it should be later this year.
