Jeffrey Hastings
- Dec 19, 2023

Know The Rules About Firearms Before Heading To The Airport

MANCHESTER, NH - Thousands of people pass through TSA security checkpoints at airports in New England daily. One of the items that TSA agents are searching for is firearm-related items that violate the policy.

In 2023 a record number of firearms have been detected at New England airports, year to date the total is at 52 firearms.

In 2022, 47 firearms were located meaning this year will be a record high for New England.

At the Manchester Boston Regional Airport, two firearm-related items have been detected year to date, which is down from the record high of four in 2021 and 2018.

TSA urges travelers to double-check their carry-on luggage before heading to the airport during the holidays.

“Be aware of what you’re packing,” Daniel Velez, a regional spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), said Wednesday.

The most recent incident at Manchester Boston Regional Airport occurred last week when TSA agents found a loaded .380 caliber handgun in a carry-on bag.

The other instance was back on March 11, when TSA officers prevented a passenger from carrying a 9mm handgun onto an airplane.

On Wednesday, Dec. 6, TSA agents at MHT detected 100 rounds of .22 caliber bullets in a passenger’s carry-on bag. The man voluntarily abandoned them to continue on his trip, according to the TSA spokesperson.

In Boston at Logan airport agents have detected 18 firearms this year, down from 31 in 2022, Velez said.

Last year data shows there were 47 firearm detections at New England security checkpoints. Of the guns detected, the percentage that were loaded was 88%.

Manchester Information will provide updated information after the year-end numbers are provided.