Loaded handgun discovered in carry-on at Columbia Airport

A loaded handgun was found in the carry-on luggage of a man trying to board a flight at Columbia Metropolitan Airport Tuesday morning, the Transportation Safety Administration said in a news release.

The passenger, who has not been publically identified, was charged with a weapons violation under airport rules and regulations, the airport’s customer service manager, Lynne Douglas, said in an email. The charge carries a maximum penalty of $1,092.50. He will also have to appear before a magistrate where he could face a civil penalty, Douglas said

The man did have a concealed weapons permit, Douglas said, but he did not intend to conceal and carry the weapon on board his Delta flight.

“He had forgotten to take the weapon out of his bag before coming to the airport,” Douglas said in an email.

The loaded TP-9 pistol was detected at an airport check-point at 11:30 am.

“TSA immediately alerted airport police, who took possession of the bag and escorted the passenger out of the checkpoint area,” the news release stated.

This is the first firearm discovered at a TSA checkpoint at Columbia’s airport in 2016. Last year, The TSA found 11, up from 3 in 2014, the TSA said