Security finds loaded gun in carry-on at Boise Airport — sixth firearm found in 2020
Officers with the Transportation Security Administration found a loaded handgun in the carry-on luggage of a female traveler ticketed for travel to San Francisco International Airport on Friday morning during routine screening.
A TSA officer spotted the image of a handgun on the X-ray screen and law enforcement at the airport found a Walther PK380 loaded with eight rounds of ammunition, TSA said in a press release.
This was the sixth firearm discovered in carry-on luggage at the Boise Airport in 2020.
“I am proud to see that despite all of the distractions from normal life due to the coronavirus, our Boise TSA officers are still focused on TSA’s main mission of keeping passengers safe by keeping prohibited items off of airplanes,” said TSA Federal Security Director for Idaho Andy Coose.
TSA will review the circumstances of the incident and levy a civil penalty against the passenger, according to the release. The recommended civil penalty for a firearm starts at $2,000 and can go up to the statutory maximum of more than $10,000 per violation. The incident has been referred to the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
Firearms can be transported on a commercial aircraft only if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and placed in checked baggage. Ammunition and firearm parts, including firearm frames, receivers, clips and magazines, are also prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be checked.
