Man cited after bringing firearm to Dulles security checkpoint

A Fairfax County man was cited on weapons charges after trying to bring a loaded handgun through a security checkpoint at Dulles International Airport, the Transportation Security Administration said Thursday.

The Annandale, Va., resident was stopped by airport security officials on Wednesday after an X-ray machine detected a .40 caliber handgun inside the man’s carry-on bag as it moved through the conveyor belt. The gun was loaded with 10 bullets, TSA said.

{mosads}Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police cited the man on weapons charges. This is the eighth incident at Dulles this year in which a firearm was detected in a carry-on bag.

The TSA advised that weapons are not permitted in carry-ons and said travelers who bring firearms to a checkpoint could face criminal charges from law enforcement and up to $11,000 in civil penalties from the agency.

Passengers are allowed to travel with firearms in checked luggage if they are properly packaged and declared.