NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – TSA officers at Norfolk International Airport (ORF) were able to prevent two firearms from being carried onto flights on Sunday.
According to officials, a Suffolk man was stopped with a .22 caliber handgun loaded with eight bullets, including one in the chamber. Later that same day, an Illinois woman was stopped with a 9mm handgun loaded with five bullets, including one in the chamber. Officers said the incidents were not related.
In both incidents, the individuals were stopped as they entered the security checkpoint, as the X-ray unit alerted to their carry-on bags. Both individuals were cited by local police on a weapons charge.
“When individuals bring their firearms to our checkpoints, they are introducing a risk to everyone in the area and it also slows down the checkpoint screening process for other travelers because when a gun is detected, the checkpoint lane comes to a complete halt until police arrive and remove the firearm and traveler from the checkpoint,” TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport Robin “Chuck” Burke said. “Our officers are good at their jobs and even with sky-high checkpoint volume, they remain alert and vigilant in screening individuals who are arriving at our checkpoints.”