Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport , once had more weapons caught at safety gates than any other aircraft in the country, according to the Transportation Security Administration’s count for 2024.
It’s the , seventh time in a row , that the , Atlanta airport , has had the contrast. There were 440 weapon caught at , Hartsfield-Jackson , last month,  , TSA , said Wednesday, way ahead of the 390 weapons caught at second-place finisher , Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
But the number of guns caught at , Hartsfield-Jackson , was over 2.4 % from 451 in 2023. In 2024, there were 6, 678 weapon discovered in carry-on carriers overall, a decrease of less than 1 %.
TSA , said it caught an average of more than 18 weapons per day across the country, including an average of more than one a time at , Hartsfield-Jackson.
Of the weapons found at checkpoints, about 94 % were loaded, according to , TSA.
” One rifle at a station is also many”, said TSA Administrator , David Pekoske , in a written statement. ” Weapon present a health risk to our staff and everyone else at the checkpoint,” said one employee.
When a firearm is discovered at a station, it also slows down businesses and can cause difficulties for other travellers as law enforcement arrives to pick up the phone.
” The vast majority of the passengers that are  , caught with firearms , at our checkpoints tell us that they simply forgot that it was there” , , Robert Spinden, federal security director in , Atlanta , for , TSA, said last year. ” I think as people are getting ready for the day, it’s so commonplace to grab your cellphone, your keys, your wallet and , your firearm“.
As passenger counts increased last year, the slight decline in gun total discoveries occurred. Gun discoveries decreased from 7.8 firearms per million people in 2023 to 7.4 firearms per million people overall.
More signs have been put up to deter gun traffickers at TSA and airports, and they have also tried to inform travelers through educational campaigns.
” We’re starting to turn the corner I think” , , TSA , spokesperson , Mark Howell , said Wednesday. ” We’ve still got a lot of work to do”.
Firearms and ammunition are prohibited in carry-on bags on airlines. If properly packed in a locked, hard-sided case in their checked bag and declared before departing at the airline check-in counter, passengers may bring an unloaded gun.
Last year, Maj.  , Kelley Collier, who is the airport commander for the , Atlanta Police Department, said those caught with unholstered, loaded guns would be charged with reckless conduct, a misdemeanor.
At airport checkpoints, those who are found with firearms face civil penalties of up to$ 15,000. TSA  also claims that those who are caught may lose their eligibility for the TSA PreCheck trusted traveler program for at least five years.
While , Hartsfield-Jackson , is the world’s busiest airport based on the , total count of passengers , and , seat capacity, some other airports may have more passengers passing through security checkpoints. That’s because a majority are connecting passengers in , Atlanta, which is , Delta , Air Lines ‘ largest hub, since those connecting passengers do not go through security in , Atlanta.
Top 10 airports in 2023 for firearm discoveries at TSA checkpoints
- Atlanta, 440
- Dallas Fort Worth, 390
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental, 272
- Phoenix Sky Harbor, 247
- Nashville, 188
- Denver, 166
- Orlando, 150
- Dallas Love Field, 143
- Tampa, 135
- Austin, 126
How to properly pack a gun for air travel
TSA , says passengers may , travel with a firearm, but it must be:
—Secured in their checked baggage.
—Packed unloaded.
—Locked in a hard-sided case.
When checking the bag at the airline ticket counter, the airline declares the carrier.
Firearms are prohibited at security checkpoints.
TSA , warns that if you are caught with a firearm in your carry-on luggage, you could face criminal prosecution. Those who participate in TSA’s PreCheck trusted traveler program would forfeit their PreCheck membership for five years and face a civil fine of up to$ 15, 000.
” Each firearm brought to a checkpoint, whether by accident or on purpose, presents a threat to other passengers and our employees, and causes delays for the traveler with the firearm”, said TSA Administrator , David Pekoske , in a written statement.
___
© 2025 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
