A Chapmanville man was cited Saturday after a loaded gun was found in his carry-on bag at Yeager Airport, according to a release from the Transportation Security Administration.
TSA officers stopped the man, whose name has not been released, when they detected a .38 caliber semi-automatic handgun as he passed through security. The weapon was loaded with five bullets. A TSA officer at the X-ray machine found the gun as it passed along the conveyor belt. The man told officials he forgot he had the gun.
Yeager Airport Police took possession of the weapon and cited the man on a state weapons charge.
The man had a ticket to fly to Washington Dulles International Airport. The incident had no effect on airport operations.
Weapons are not allowed in carry-on bags, but unloaded guns may be taken in checked bags if they are properly packed and declared to the airline.
Passengers who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to possible criminal charges and up to $11,000 in civil penalties from TSA.
For more information on how to properly travel with a firearm, see TSA's website.