WASHINGTON — Police arrested a man who brought a loaded handgun to BWI Marshall Airport over the weekend.
A Transportation Security Administration officer caught 59-year-old Patrick Schmitt of Chester, Maryland, trying to bring a loaded handgun past the security checkpoint on Saturday morning. He had a 9 mm handgun loaded with three bullets when his carry-on bag went through the TSA checkpoint x-ray machine, said TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein.
Schmitt told TSA officials that he forgot that he had his loaded gun with him, Farbstein said.
Maryland Transportation Authority police arrested him and he is facing charges of interfering with security procedures and wearing, carrying, or transporting handgun.
“There is no indication that he has been involved in a similar situation before,” MDTA police spokesman Cpl. Edward Bartlinski said in an email to WTOP.
Saturday’s incident was the sixth gun caught at BWI Marshall so far in 2018. There were 26 total firearms caught in 2017 at the airport; 24 in 2016.
Transporation officials remind travelers that those who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to possible criminal charges from law enforcement. A typical first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint is $3,900. Even travelers with firearm permits are not allowed to bring guns onto airplanes, Farbstein said.
She recommends travelers contact their airline regarding specific firearm and ammunition carriage policies.
