Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport discovered a gun in a man's carry-on luggage Tuesday morning, according to the TSA.
Officials say the gun was a loaded 9 mm Beretta 92FS with 14 rounds of ammunition.
It was reportedly found during routine X-ray screening shortly before 5 a.m. Santa Barbara Airport Police responded to recover the firearm and escorted the traveler out of the security checkpoint area.
TSA officials say the man was traveling to Phoenix. He faces a fine that can range from $2,050 to $14,950, and he could have Trusted Traveler status and TSA PreCheck expedited screening benefits revoked.
Firearms, ammunition, magazines and other gun parts are not permitted in carry-on luggage, even if the traveler has a concealed weapons permit. Guns can be transported on commercial airplanes as long as they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case, and placed in checked baggage. Click here for more information on the rules for traveling with a firearm.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story stated that this was the first gun found in carry-on luggage at the airport this year, according to the TSA. The TSA has since clarified that this was the second gun found so far in 2023. The first was discovered on March 7.
