TSA stops 2 handguns during separate incidents at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Two handguns were intercepted during separate incidents at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport last week. 

Both incidents occurred on the same day, Thursday, Aug. 10. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers spotted images of handguns on the X-ray screen around 9:40 a.m. and 4 p.m. 

 TSA officials immediately alerted the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office. Both firearms were loaded.

“Summer travel season has been busy, and bringing prohibited or illegal items to our security checkpoints because slows down the screening process for everyone until the incident is resolved,” Wisconsin TSA Federal Security Director Mark Lendvay said. “If traveling with a firearm, pack it in a locked, hard-sided case and check the bag. Guns are never allowed in carry-on luggage.”

These are the 14th and 15th firearms detected at MKE this year. A firearm was also detected at an MKE checkpoint Aug. 4. A total of 21 firearms were detected at MKE security checkpoints last year.

According to TSA, the penalty for bringing weapons to the airport increased and can reach as high as $14,950, depending on the circumstances. 

TSA will revoke TSA PreCheck eligibility for at least five years for passengers caught with a firearm in their possession.

Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case and declared at the airline check-in counter. 

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