Loaded gun found in carry-on at Eastern Iowa Airport

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Transportation Security Administration found a loaded firearm in a carry-on bag at The Eastern Iowa Airport Tuesday morning.

According to a news release from the TSA, the .38 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun loaded with five bullets was spotted during a security checkpoint x-ray screening.

TSA personnal contacted local law enforcement, which is standard procedure.

Pam Hinman, airport director of marketing and communications, said airport public safety officers seized the weapon and interviewed the passenger.

'They determined that he had a valid permit to carry the weapon and there was no malicious intent on his part,” Hinman said. 'The passenger was allowed to continue with his flight plans, but arrangements have been made to follow up with him when he returns.”

Hinman said the passenger was preparing to board an American Airlines flight.

TSA can issue a passenger who brings a firearm to a security checkpoint a civil penalty of up to $11,000. The average penalty for a loaded firearm is $3,000, and $1,500 if it is unloaded.

Any determination about a criminal charge is under the discretion of local law enforcement.

This is the second firearm TSA has found at the Cedar Rapids airport's security checkpoint this year.

According to the TSA website, passengers are allowed to transport unloaded firearms in a locked hard-sided container in checked baggage. The airline must be notified of the firearm at the ticket counter.