TSA catches man smuggling a handgun hidden in a DVD player at JFK Airport
- A New York man was arrested after a handgun was discovered hidden inside a DVD player he had packed in his checked bag at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Saturday.
- It is legal to fly with guns and ammunition in check luggage, but only if very specific guidelines are followed.
- TSA regulations forbid passengers from possessing firearms on their persons and in their carry-on luggage.
- Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.
A New York man was arrested after a handgun was discovered hidden inside a DVD player he had packed in his checked bag at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Saturday.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) discovered the handgun when the bag was going through security scanning. The 9mm handgun was wrapped in aluminum foil and hidden inside a DVD player, according to a TSA press release. The gun was not loaded.
The man, who is from Queen's, New York, was arrested at his gate before boarding a plane to Mexico. He has been charged with weapons violations.
Read more: Boeing can't deliver the 737 Max to customers, and now the planes are clogging up its storage lots.
In the US, TSA regulations outright forbid passengers from possessing firearms on their persons and in their carry-on luggage.
However, they may be permitted in checked luggage if very specific regulations are followed.
"Firearms carried in checked bags must be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in," the TSA said on its website. "Check with your airline to see if they allow firearms in checked bags."
"When traveling, be sure to comply with the laws concerning possession of firearms as they vary by local, state and international government," the agency added.
The TSA discovered 91 guns in the carry-on bags of the 16.3 million passengers in screened between April 8 and April 14.
Of those 91 guns, the agency said 81 were loaded and 35 had a round chambered.
Those who are caught in possession of a firearm at a TSA checkpoint can be arrested or subject to a fine of up to $13,333.