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The employee - who now faces serious consequences - was caught with a 9mm handgun that was loaded with eight bullets when it was found in his belongings as he was screened at the checkpoint on the way to work.
Police investigators at the airport were contacted, responded to the checkpoint and confiscated the weapon. The Baltimore man was cited on firearm charges and his airport ID badge was confiscated.
Without the badge, the man will be unable to work at the airport.
Officials said that the incident was a "possible insider threat situation."
"This was a good catch on the part of our TSA officers as it addressed a possible insider threat situation,” explained Christopher Murgia, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Maryland. “Similar to passengers, individuals who work at the airport are prohibited from bringing any prohibited items onto the secure side of the checkpoint.
"We are always on alert for employees who may have possible bad intentions, which could possibly represent a threat to aviation security.”
In addition to losing his ID badge, which prevents him from working at the airport, the individual also faces a possible federal financial civil citation, which could cost thousands of dollars, they added.
“Airports across the country have been extremely busy during the Memorial Day Weekend travel period and our officers have remained vigilant in focusing on their mission,” Murgia continued. “We want people to get to their destinations safely and get home safely.”
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