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The three guns were detected in the checkpoint X-ray machine on Saturday, July 30, Tuesday, Aug. 2, and Wednesday, Aug. 2, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
The first arrest was made when officers stopped a Millville, NJ man from carrying a revolver and five knives onto his flight on Saturday, TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said.
Then, on Tuesday, an Eagles Mere, PA man had been issued a gate pass from the airline to escort his young daughter to her gate when he was caught with a 9 mm handgun, the spokeswoman said.
The next day, a woman from Reading, PA who was carrying an unloaded 9mm handgun was caught by officers, Farbstein said.
Police cited all of the individuals, and they are expected to face a federal financial civil penalty.
Passengers can travel with firearms only in checked baggage and if they're properly packaged and declared at their airline ticket counter, Farbstein said.
Firearms must be unloaded in a hard-sided locked case that's packed separately from ammunition, she said.
The locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared.
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.
“Three guns in five days is an epidemic. Bringing deadly weapons such as handguns to a security checkpoint is a very serious offense,” said Gerardo Spero, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Philadelphia International Airport.
“Individuals are responsible for everything in their possession that they are carrying through a security checkpoint and there are severe consequences for bringing guns to a checkpoint."
Twenty-two guns have been seized at Philadelphia International Airport checkpoints this year.
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