INDIANAPOLIS — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says 2021 was a record breaking year for staff stopping firearms at airport checkpoints across the country.
5,972 firearms were stopped, surpassing the previous record of 4,432 firearms caught at checkpoints in the full calendar year 2019.
At the Indianapolis International Airport (IND), 74 handguns were stopped - more than double 2020's total of 36 and an increase of 12 from 2019, when 62 firearms were stopped.
The TSA says nationwide, 86% of those firearms were loaded.
“While our passenger volumes have not yet fully returned to pre-pandemic levels, we are seeing even higher numbers of firearms, most of them loaded,” Acting Indiana TSA Federal Security Director Kevin Bidwell said in a news release. “Passengers are strictly prohibited from bringing firearms onboard planes, and our TSA officers are laser-focused on security and preventing weapons from getting through our checkpoints.”
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.
A typical first offense for carrying a loaded handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100, but the TSA may impose civil penalties of up to $13,910 per violation per person.
The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) had the most number of firearms stopped last year with 507.
For more TSA guidance on how to travel with firearms and ammunition, click here.
-
Decluttering after the holidays? Here's where to take your old electronics
If decluttering is one of your goals for 2026, here's how you can declutter some of those old electronic items.
Indiana lawmaker proposes state takeover of public safety downtown
Safety in the city’s core is a frequent topic of discussion following violent crimes. Now, one state lawmaker has introduced legislation that would allow the state to step in.
Hoosier cities embracing AI technology to boost efficiency
Carmel is among the communities embracing AI to boost municipal efficiency. The city sees the technology as a tool to improve operations and deliver better services to residents.
Cicero homeowner concerned about proposed lithium battery facility
A rezoning proposal for a new battery storage facility in Cicero is drawing concerns from nearby residents who worry about noise, light pollution and potential safety risks.
