SeaTac, Wash. — Officers with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) found three firearms in the carry-on luggage of travelers in a 24-hour period at SeaTac airport.
On Thursday around 11:30 a.m., officials said they found a loaded .380 caliber Ruger LCP in the carry-on luggage of a man who was headed to Spokane.
Six hours later, officials said they found an unloaded .22 caliber North American Arms revolver in the carry-on luggage of a woman who was headed to San Diego.
Responding officers with the Port of Seattle Police Department interviewed each of the passengers and confiscated the weapons.
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On Friday around 5:20 a.m., officials said they found an unloaded Hawes .25 caliber pistol in the carry-on luggage of a man who was headed to Orange County, California.
Each passenger was arrested on a state charge, and TSA officials are reviewing the circumstances of each incident and will issue civil penalties.
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The recommended civil penalty starts at $2,000 and can go up to $13,333 per violation.
TSA officials said they will evaluate each incident on a case-by-case basis, and factors they consider for the civil penalties include whether the firearm was loaded and/or ammunition was accessible.
TSA officials said in addition to the civil penalties, passengers can also have their Trusted Traveler status and TSA Precheck status revoked for a period of time.
In 2019, TSA officials said officers have seized 19 firearms, 15 of which were loaded.
Nationwide, TSA officers have seized 1,451 firearms in carry-on luggage.
Click here to view the TSA's rules for transporting firearms.
Click here to view the TSA's "Can I bring?" list.