A King George, Virginia man told Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Reagan National Airport that a loaded handgun discovered in his carry-on baggage was put there by his wife, blaming her for the mishap last week.
The man was going through a TSA checkpoint at the Arlington, Virginia airport last Thursday when officers found the gun.
According to a TSA press release, the X-ray unit alerted officers to take a closer look at the man’s carry-on bag, and when opened, the gun was located and confiscated.
According to Fox News, TSA said the man blamed his wife, saying she packed his carry-on bag, and he did not know the gun was inside.
As a result, the man was given a citation and faces a civil penalty from TSA which can carry a fine of up to $15,000.
"It is disappointing to continue to see travelers carrying their loaded guns to our security checkpoints," John Busch, TSA’s federal security director at Reagan National, said. "My advice is that when packing for a flight to start with a completely empty bag, and all travelers must pack their own bag, so that there are no surprises when someone gets to our checkpoint."
Here's how this was covered by local TV: https://www.fox5dc.com/news/man-blames-wife-after-tsa-finds-loaded-gun-packed-in-carry-on-bag-at-reagan-national-airport
Photo: PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP / Getty Images