The Transportation Security Administration discovered a loaded firearm at the Myrtle Beach International Airport checkpoint Thursday morning, officials said.
At approximately 10:45 a.m., a loaded Smith and Wesson .38 caliber handgun was discovered by an X-Ray machine in a passenger’s carry-on bag. The passenger also had a knife in her possession and hollow-point ammo in the gun, authorities say.
A 52-year-old woman had the weapons and told authorities she “had forgotten the gun and knife were in her purse,” Horry County Police said in a report.
Janet Grace Allred of Ivanhoe, Va., was charged in the incident, police said in a report.
This is first firearm discovered at a security checkpoint by TSA officers at Myrtle Beach Airport this year.
A total of three firearms were found at the airport’s checkpoint in 2014, which was down slightly from 2013 when 4 were discovered at Myrtle Beach Airport.
On Thursday morning, TSA immediately alerted airport police, who took possession of the bag and arrested Allred on state charges.
While firearms may be transported in checked baggage (provided they are declared to the airline, in a proper carrying case and unloaded), they are prohibited in carry-on bags.
“TSA would like to remind passengers that it is important for them to thoroughly search their bags for any potential dangerous weapons or prohibited items before departing for the airport,” officials said.
“Passengers are responsible for the contents of bags they bring to the checkpoint,” said Mark Howell, TSA spokesman. “Our advice is to look through bags thoroughly before coming to the airport to make sure there are no illegal or prohibited items.”
In addition to potential criminal charges, passengers who bring firearms to a checkpoint face civil penalties from TSA.
