A North Carolina man was caught trying to take a loaded gun in his carry-on bag on a flight Saturday at BWI, said TSA officers.
Officers detected a .380 caliber handgun loaded with six bullets, when the man's carry-on bag entered the checkpoint X-ray machine.
The man claimed he did not know the gun was with him and was arrested on weapon charges.
TSA officials reported that Saturday's finding marks 21 guns caught at one of the airports checkpoints so far this year.
TSA firearm catches at BWI:
Officials say bringing guns to a checkpoint closes lanes, cause delays for other travelers and lead to criminal charges. Legal gun holders are not allowed to bring guns onto planes.
TSA has the authority to assess civil penalties of up to $13,000 for weapons violations. A typical first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint is $3,900.
