TSA officers prevented a loaded gun from being taken onto a plane at Sioux Falls Regional Airport on Tuesday.
The gun was spotted on an X-ray machine by a TSA agent, who alerted Sioux Falls police and the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities confiscated the gun and the passenger was not allowed to board the plane.
This is the fourth gun that has been intercepted at Sioux Falls Regional Airport in 2023. Last year, nine guns were intercepted at the airport.
Passengers are allowed to travel with guns in checked luggage, but they must be unloaded, packed separately from ammunition, and placed in a locked hard-sided case. Guns must also be declared to the airline at the check-in counter.
Bringing a gun to the airport can result in a fine of up to $14,950 and the loss of TSA PreCheck eligibility for five years.
The TSA urges passengers to check their bags carefully before arriving at the airport to ensure that they do not bring any prohibited items, including guns.