NORFOLK, Va. — The TSA at Norfolk International Airport stopped a Virginia Beach man from boarding a plane with a loaded handgun Thursday.
The 9mm gun loaded with 15 bullets was stopped at the security checkpoint when the X-ray caught it in a carry-on bag, according to the TSA.
![Norfolk International Airport](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ae5de18/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/1280x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcc%2F5a%2F6d3074734a9e82dd32df91e8a1ab%2Fimg-0235.jpg)
Norfolk
Norfolk Airport had 2nd-highest number of guns caught by TSA in Virginia
Airport police removed the gun and cited the Virginia Beach man with a weapons charge, according to the TSA. He will also face a financial civil penalty for bringing a gun to a TSA checkpoint, which can reach as high as $15,000.
TSA says that the case will be forwarded to the Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney.
There were 23 firearms caught by ORF TSA in 2023, this year they have already caught two.
![TSA packing a carry-on bag](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3c840bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x3000+0+0/resize/1280x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1a%2F08%2F08a4665545f893867d786db4339f%2F20231026-110033.jpg)
Norfolk
Number of guns found at ORF rise, TSA highlights how to pack carry-on bag
Nationwide, there were 6,735 firearms caught at airport security checkpoints, and 93% of those were loaded, according to TSA.
Firearms must be traveled in checked baggage, unloaded and in a hard-sided locked case. The locked case must be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared.
For more details on how to properly fly with firearm, go to the TSA's website.