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A traveler was cited early Tuesday after authorities say an unloaded gun was discovered in his carry-on bag at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
The 9 mm gun was found around 7:20 a.m. Tuesday at Checkpoint D, said Jon Allen, a spokesman with the federal Transportation Security Administration. He said a magazine full of ammunition, as well as extra ammo also was found in the carry-on bag. But the gun was unloaded.
The passenger, 50-year-old Michael Lemons, was cited for carrying a weapon on airport property, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. A police spokeswoman said it appears the man forgot the weapon was in his bag.
The gun was the fourth firearm found at a checkpoint at Charlotte Douglas so far this year, according to the TSA.
Unloaded firearms can be transported in checked baggage. But guns, as well as ammunition or firearm parts are prohibited from carry-on baggage, according to the TSA. Anyone who brings a gun to a security checkpoint can be cited and also could face civil penalties.
The gun incident caused officials to temporarily close the checkpoint, according to a traveler at the airport.
