- An airline crew member tried to bring a gun to work, the TSA said.
- Reagan National Airport's security director called it a "possible insider threat situation."
- The TSA detected an average of 18 guns a day in the first nine months of this year.
An airline crew member tried to bring a gun to work in a "possible insider threat situation," the Transportation Security Administration said.
The unnamed woman was stopped last Friday at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Among the flight crew member's carry-on items, TSA officers intercepted a loaded 9mm handgun, the agency said in a Monday press release.
After finding the weapon, TSA officers notified local police, who confiscated it and issued a citation. The TSA then notified the airline about the serious violation.
The woman also faces a federal civil penalty of up to $15,000.
"This was a good catch on the part of our TSA officers as it addressed a possible insider threat situation," said John Busch, the agency's security director for Reagan National Airport.
"We are always on alert for any employees who may have possible bad intentions, which could possibly represent a threat to aviation security. Members of flight crews are subject to security screening, as are travelers."
More than 5,000 firearms were discovered at airport security checkpoints in the first nine months of this year, per TSA statistics.
That's an average of 18 guns a day being found at airports, with about 90% still loaded.
The TSA releases such statistics every quarter to remind travelers to double-check the rules. Firearms can only be transported in checked bags and cannot be taken through TSA security checkpoints.
Last year, a record 6,737 firearms were detected by the TSA —more than 2022's tally of 6,542.
"TSA is committed to keeping travelers, our officers, and airport employees safe, and the number of firearms being discovered at airport security checkpoints remains a significant challenge," said TSA Administrator David Pekoske.