Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents in Atlanta totally a missed a firearm in the carry-on bag of a Delta passenger, who ended up transporting the weapon to Japan.
The unidentified passenger did not deliberately sneak the firearm onboard. He discovered it in-flight, on Delta 295 from Atlanta (ATL) to Tokyo Narita (NRT) on January 3rd, and immediately reported it to flight attendants. The aircraft was met by authorities in Tokyo and the passenger surrendered his weapon. No charges were filed.
TSA: No Excuse For Error; Don’t Blame Government Shutdown
In a statement, TSA did not blame the federal government shutdown for the error:
TSA has determined standard procedures were not followed and a passenger did in fact pass through a standard screening TSA checkpoint with a firearm at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on the morning of January 3.
The perception that this might have occurred as a result of the partial government shutdown would be false. The national unscheduled absence rate of TSA staff on Thursday, January 3, 2019, was 4.8% compared to 6.3% last year, Thursday, January 4, 2018. So in fact, the national call out rate was higher a year ago than this year on that date.
That’s an interesting stat…and I appreciate that the TSA did not try to put blame on the shutdown for this glaring error.
Of course the facts speak for themselves. TSA has repeatedly missed guns and other weapons over the years. It still stops, however, about 4,000 guns per year.
CONCLUSION
Let’s be thankful that this was a harmless passenger who accidentally brought his gun along and promptly surrendered it. But at the same time, isn’t it sobering how many mistakes the TSA makes? Calling the organization our “last line of defense” is simply a joke.
image: TSA
Matthew, I know that I will get roasted on this post but, with more that 2,600,000 pax per day in the US how many fire arms get through the system per day? I don’t like the TSA anymore than the next person but they cannot be perfect. No one can. Your conclusion that the TSA is a “Joke” is as bad as your post on the safety of someone in Saudi Arabia vs Thailand.
Unpaid TSA agent took away my water this morning at DCA. Govt deems it too dangerous for me to fly with a 6 oz water bottle, despite the fact that I’m global entry, pre check and have flown 3 million miles and thousands of flights YET the same government that won’t pay the TSA agent for doing his job (no matter how silly it is to take away my water and despite the fact that TSA has not evercaught a terrorist) the Southern borders of the US remain wide open with thousands of people streaming in. All unvetted, many sick, some criminals , coyotes, drug smugglers, etc. almost all will require US taxpayer assistance in one form or another forever. Congress does not care about border security. Why do we care about (dubious) airport security? Let those people go home and enjoy a vacation
I share the same thoughts. TSA has the most obnoxious people working for them and think they are above anyone else. I get they are trying to keep us safe but they are far from doing a good job. I have TSA Pre, Global Entry, etc… and I travel every week domestically and internationally. I am almost always selected for a “random check”. Really? Why??? What is the point in having TSA Pre if I need to be checked? Also, all security checks are different. I have cases where I leave my home airport in the morning and go through security with no issues. I fly back on the same day from another airport and everything beeps when I go through the X-ray machine. I am wearing the same clothes and carrying the same stuff. Last, the BS about food and water. Why my water is not safe to take with me? Why do I need to pay $4.50 for a bottle of water that is “safe” inside the airport of fill an empty bottle with the nasty tap water that is available on the water fountains? TSA is outdated and they give a false feeling of security but they do not do a good job at all.
I don’t own a weapon so I’m honestly asking: do those of you who own guns just regularly lose track of where they are? It’s slightly scary to think that people are walking around in public (let alone airplanes) with firearms they are just so used to that they wouldn’t be acutely aware of it at all times.
So i can somewhat understand how someone could forget a firearm is in a carry on bag if say they didn’t repack a bag they use often before going away.
What I am curious about is first, when he informed the flight attendants, how was that handled? Was he asked to relinquish the weapon or entire bag to the flight crew? Most likely he was unable to keep it in Tokyo, so is the weapon being held for him until his departure or was it just outright confiscated?
Finally same question as to if it was detected in the TSA screening – would it be held at the airport TSA office until his return? If it was a destination where he could have it, would the TSA have allowed him to check it separately? Does he have the option of being given the weapon back, leaving the airport to bring it home possible missing the flight? Or once again does he just loose it no matter what?
Nick, after arriving in Tokyo he was questioned by Tokyo police and airport security for 2 hours. Afterwards he was sent back to the USA with the gun in his checked luggage. They are very strict with guns in Japan.