Chesterfield man stopped from bringing loaded revolver, bullets onto RIC flight

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A Chesterfield County man was prevented from bringing a loaded gun and several bullets onto a flight out of Richmond International Airport (RIC) on Tuesday.

According to an Aug. 14 press release, the incident took place on Tuesday, Aug 13. Officers with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) intercepted the gun after finding it within the man’s carry-on. It was detected via the security checkpoint’s X-ray unit, which alerted the officers and prompted a closer look at the man’s baggage.

The TSA said the gun was a .22 caliber revolver loaded with six bullets. Another six hollow point bullets were packed with the gun.

This handgun is one of many TSA officers have found with travelers this year. A TSA spokesperson said this incident only emphasizes a growing, concerning trend.

“The most firearms our team has caught in a single year was in 2022 when 24 firearms were intercepted,” said Robin “Chuck” Burke, the TSA’s Federal Security Director for RIC. “As of today, we sit at 23 guns detected. It is very concerning that gun owners continue to bring their firearms to our checkpoints. Responsible gun owners always know where their firearms are and they know not to bring them to a checkpoint.”

The Richmond Airport Police removed the firearm and cited the man on a weapons charge. He will also face a civil penalty from the TSA, which could reach as high as $15,000.

If you wish to travel with a firearm, you can do so legally by putting it into a secure, locked case in your checked baggage. It should also never be loaded. You can learn more about these travel guidelines on the TSA’s website .

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