TSA

How many firearms did travelers bring to airport checkpoints in 2024?

TSA,

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) released its 2024 tally for the number of firearms found at airport checkpoints.

And while this time around the number of “finds” isn’t a record breaker, it’s still quite shocking.

In 2024, (TSA) found a total of 6,678 firearms at airport security checkpoints, a slight decrease from the 6,737 firearms found in 2023.

More alarming: In 2024, approximately 94% of the firearms passengers brought to the checkpoints were loaded.

TSA screened more than 904 million passengers in 2024 and the total number of firearms found equates to 18.2 firearms found each day and 7.4 firearms per million people.

That’s a decrease from the 7.8 firearms per million people in 2023.

In 2024, firearms were discovered at 277 airports with the most firearms, 440, found at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

Other airports on the Top 10 list for firearm discoveries include:

Dallas Fort Worth (DFW): 390

George Bush Intercontinental (IAH): 272

Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX): 247

Nashville (BNA): 188

Denver (DEN): 166

Orlando (MCO): 150

Dallas Love Field (DAL): 143

Tampa (TPA): 135

Austin (AUS): 126

What happens when TSA discovers a firearm at an airport checkpoint?

TSA will immediately contact local law enforcement and, depending on local laws, the person who brought the firearms to the airport will either be arrested or cited.

TSA does not confiscate firearms, but in addition to any action taken by local law enforcement, the agency has the authority to levy a maximum civil penalty of $14,950 and revoke TSA PreCheck eligibility revoked for at least five years.

Download TSA’s 2025 Canine Calendar

Animals,

Love dogs and looking for a fun, free 2025 calendar?

Then check out the 2025 Canine Calendar put out – for free – by the Transportation Security Administration.

The calendar features 13 hard-working TSA canines selected from more than 80 entries submitted by TSA teams nationwide. Each month features photos, fun facts about each winning pup as well as notations for special holidays, such as Squirrel Appreciation Day (January 21) and World Chocolate Day (July 7).

The 2025 TSA Canine Calendar also includes factoids about the history of TSA’s canine program.

For example, if you turn to the March 2025 page you’ll learn that the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) canine program was created after a bomb threat at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on March 15, 1972.

“On that day, moments into a flight, the airline received an anonymous call warning about a bomb onboard. The aircraft returned to JFK where passengers were evacuated and a bomb-sniffing dog named Brandy was brought on board to search. Brandy found the explosive device 12 minutes before it was set to detonate.“

Yay, Brandy!

Today, there are more than 1,000 canine teams (dogs and handlers) deployed at more than 100 of the nation’s airports, mass transit and maritime systems.

Not just any dog is suited to work with the TSA.

According to the TSA, each year about 300 new canine recruits complete an intensive 16-week training program at the TSA Canine Training Center, located at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas.

While in training, the dogs are paired with their handlers and then master the art of detecting a variety of explosives odors. The dogs are also trained on how to do their sensitive work while on duty in busy transportation environments.

Here’s the line-up for this year’s TSA Canine Calendar. Download your copy here.

  • Argo: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
  • Arina: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
  • Badger: Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
  • Barni: San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
  • Bely: Charleston International Airport (CHS)
  • Beny: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
  • Birdie: Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
  • Bruno: Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
  • Carlo: Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
  • Dodo: Portland International Airport (PDX)
  • Hary: Richmond International Airport (RIC)
  • Kipper: San Diego International Airport (SAN)
  • Smokie: Dallas Love Field (DAL)

Airports celebrate National Dog Day

Animals, Uncategorized, ,

Monday, August 26, was National Dog Day and airports around the country took the opportunity to celebrate the therapy dogs and their people who volunteer to hang out in the terminals helping passengers de-stress.

Here’s a sampling of some of the celebrations. Let us know if we missed yours.

And, look! After all the votes were counted, Barni from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has been crowned the Cutest Canine for 2024.

TSA’s 6 month gun tally + Happy Birthday SEA

TSA, ,

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been screening a record number of travelers and finding lots of firearms as it does.

How many firearms?

For the first half of the year, which ended on June 30, TSA reports that it found 3,269 firearms at airport security checkpoints, an average of 19 firearms a day.

94% of all the firearms found so far were loaded.

During this period last year, TSA found about the same number of firearms: 3,251.

How’s it going now that we’re into the 2nd half of 2024?

In the first 8 days of July, TSA found an additional 166 additional firearms. So we’re off to an alarming start.

Happy 75th birthday to Seattle-Tacoma Int’l Airport

SEA easing into its 75th year

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) celebrated a milestone birthday on Tuesday with a day of festivities in the terminal and a look back at opening day.

SEA scavenger hunt

SEA created a terminal-wide scavenger hunt in honor of its 75th birthday.

Here’s the map of where to look for the scavenger hunt items and the list of what to look for next time you’re in the SEA terminal.

Travel Tidbits from Airports Near You

Holidays, , , ,

Here’s a quick roundup of fun posts and new amenities recently spotted at airports.

New York’s Albany International Airport (ALB) is getting ready for all the travelers who will be arriving for the Belmont Stakes horse race in Saratoga on June 8.

They’ve set up a selfie station with a horse statue just past the security checkpoint.

Party on!

Airports often put together a gate-side celebration when an airline kicks off a new route. But Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) does it especially well.

We’ve been watching these Jabbrrbox workspace pods sprout at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) over the past few months and have yet to try them out. Given how busy the airport is this season, though, we’re sure travelers with work to do or important calls to take will find them useful.

We’re keeping an eye out for the colorful posts from airports in support of Pride Month.

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is lighting up its tower with a two-fer in support of Indigenous History Month AND Pride Month.

And we got a kick out of this TSA post recognizing National Hug Your Cat Day. Is that even a real thing?