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DIA ranked 4th in nation for most firearms found in airport in 2018

Posted at 10:39 AM, Feb 07, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-07 14:50:39-05

DENVER — Denver International Airport was ranked fourth in the nation for most firearms found at TSA checkpoints in 2018.

In a new report published Thursday called “TSA Year in Review: A Record Setting 2018,” Transportation Security Administration authorities said staff at DIA had found 126 firearms in carry-on bags at the airport.

In 2017, staff found 118 firearms, and they discovered 98 in 2016, according to TSA.

DIA was ranked after Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (129 firearms found), Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (219 firearms found) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (298 firearms found), which are all major airports in the United States. DIA was ranked as the No. 5 most busy U.S. airport, according to a FAA report released Monday.

Across the country, TSA found 4,239 firearms in carry-on bags, which is a new record. That averages out to about 11 a day. Of those firearms, 86.15 percent of them were loaded.

TSA can impose civil penalties up to $13,333 per violation and repeat violators will face a higher penalty.

These are the airports with the highest number of firearm discoveries in 2018:

  1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: 298 (253 loaded)
  2. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport: 219 (193 loaded)
  3. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport: 129 (120 loaded)
  4. Denver International Airport: 126 (95 loaded)
  5. Orlando International Airport: 123 (112 loaded)
  6. George Bush Intercontinental Airport: 117 (115 loaded)
  7. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport: 96 (80 loaded)
  8. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport: 93 (76 loaded)
  9. Dallas Love Field Airport: 89 (83 loaded)
  10. Nashville International Airport: 86 (80 loaded)

TSA also reported that it saw a record number of travelers in 2018 — 5.5 percent more than in 2017 — and significant security enhancements.

Ammunition and firearms are not allowed in carry-on bags, but are allowed in checked bags with special instructions. For more information on how to travel through airports with firearms, click here.