With a growing number of travelers landing in hot water for coming to the airport with a weapon in hand, the TSA and the Albany County Sheriff's Office are reminding people that there's a right way and a wrong way to fly with a firearm.
The proper way to pack a firearm is unloaded, packed in a hard-sided case, and locked. Ammunition must be in its original container or box, even if the box is only partially full. The container must be placed inside the case next to the weapon.
TSA's Upstate New York Federal Security Director Bart Johnson says there have been nearly 60 incidents in Albany over the past year and a half.
"They inadvertently, so they say, by accident, pack a weapon that they shouldn't bring on to the plane with them. And the consequences can be arrest, disruption in the terminal, and a significant fine by the TSA," Johnson said.
Johnson and Sheriff Craig Apple say don't bring the weapon to the security checkpoint. It must be checked at the airline ticket counter, and the passenger must fill out a form declaring the firearm.
Ammunition must be in its original container. and placed inside the case next to the firearm.