The TSA reported 48 firearms detected at New England airports this year, including three at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport
At MHT, the number of firearms detected has been creeping up. They found three this year, two last year, and just one in 2022. The latest incident happened on October 16 when TSA agents spotted a gun in a guy’s carry-on bag. They called in the Londonderry police, who found a loaded 9mm firearm.
The police took care of the situation, but the 53-year-old man ended up missing his flight. Earlier this year, a woman tried to bring an unloaded .380 caliber firearm onto a plane at MHT. TSA notified the police again, and she was allowed to continue her trip after they took the gun.
Logan Airport had the highest number of detections, with 24 firearms this year, up from 18 last year. Overall, New England airports reported 48 firearms so far in 2024. The TSA has been screening a ton of passengers—over 33.4 million—so that’s about 1.44 firearms per million travelers.
Interestingly, this trend isn’t just local. Nationwide, TSA found 6,678 firearms this year, slightly down from last year’s record of 6,737. Most of these firearms were loaded, with New England having an 89.6% rate.
Bob Allison, the TSA’s security director for Massachusetts, emphasized the seriousness of these incidents. He reminded gun owners to know where their firearms are and to follow the rules for flying with them. If you’re traveling with a firearm, it needs to be in checked baggage, properly packed, and declared at the airline counter. Ignoring these rules can lead to hefty fines, even if you have a concealed carry permit.
