Daniel K. Inouye TSA Recovers Unloaded Firearm in Passenger’s Carry-On at Security Checkpoint

Officers with the Transportation Security Administration at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport recently recovered an unloaded 9 mm Glock 19 handgun in the carry-on luggage of a male passenger.

The gun was found on June 30 at around 6 a.m. during the routine X-ray screening of carry-on luggage at the security checkpoint. The carry-on belonged to a traveler with a ticket to Los Angeles International Airport.

Upon discovery of the firearm, TSA notified security personnel with Allied Universal Services. They responded to the security checkpoint and questioned the traveler. The passenger was ultimately arrested by Hawaii State Sheriffs.

“Firearms should never travel in carry-on luggage and be brought to the security checkpoint. The firearm discovery last week at HNL is reason to ask all gun owners to familiarize themselves with the procedures and rules for traveling with a firearm,” said acting Federal Security Director for Hawaii Scot Thaxton. “I continue to be grateful to the TSA officers here and across the country who work day in and day out to keep travelers safe by ensuring security threats do not make it into the cabin of an aircraft.”

This is the second firearm discovered by TSA in carry-on luggage at HNL in 2022. The first firearm of the year – a Sig Sauer 320 – was found on Feb. 7. At this same point in 2021, TSA officers had detected two guns in carry-on luggage at HNL.

Since Jan. 1, 2022, TSA officers have discovered more than 3,100 firearms in travelers’ carry-on luggage at airports nationwide. In all of 2021, TSA officers found more than 5,900 firearms across the country.