The TSA says Sunday was the busiest day on record for air travel in the U.S. TSA head David Pekoske said screeners put more than 2.9 million passengers through checkpoints at the nation’s airport as he headed for more than 50,000 flights. The Sunday total eclipsed the previous record of 2.8 million on June 30. Before that, Dec. 1, 2019, stood as the busiest day. Hordes of travelers continue to flock to the airport. About 2.6 million were expected on Tuesday and 2.7 million will fly on Wednesday.
There were some weather delays thanks to systems that moved through the Midwest and Southeast on Sunday, but there was nothing that even approached the weather-related meltdowns that occurred last winter. O’Hare likely had the most delays but Atlanta and New York also had their share of weather problems. Fog in Seattle also caused some regional issues. Delays have averaged about 20,000 a day since Sunday and cancellations about 500.
Reverting to the the pre-boarding procedures in effect before DHS head Janet Napolitano decided to unconstitutionally treat every traveler as if they were terrorists would help the air travel situation.
Unless some agency is keeping secrets, there was no need for the TSA’s enhanced fondling and probing of travelers that were introduced in 2011 by Napolitano. There had been no reported incidents of any successful terrorist boarding of flights that originated in the USA after 9/11/01 and up to the adoption of the enhanced procedures. Every reported incident of attempted terrorism in flight were those that originated in overseas locations with destinations in the USA.
Terrorists aren’t stupid. They’re going to attack whatever is most vulnerable. If that means foreign flights, then that’s to be expected. Frankly, the most vulnerable place in the US air travel system is the security checkpoints themselves…
TSA stopped 3,251 firearms at airport checkpoints nationwide during the first half of 2023
Passengers traveling with a firearm must properly pack it in checked baggage.
Monday, July 10, 2023
WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) intercepted 3,251 firearms at airport security checkpoints during the first half of 2023, which ended June 30. The total represents an average 18 firearms per day at TSA checkpoints of which more than 92% were loaded. This is an increase from the first half of 2022 when Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) stopped 3,053 firearms at security checkpoints of which more than 86% were loaded.
In the first five days of July, TSOs nationwide intercepted 90 additional firearms bringing the total through July 5 to 3,341. Although the rate at which passengers bring firearms to airport security checkpoints has actually declined in 2023, the number of passengers traveling has also increased, so the agency is expected to surpass last year’s record of 6,542 firearm interceptions.
Passengers who wish to travel with a firearm must ensure it is properly packed in checked baggage and declared at the airline ticket counter. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition, so travelers must also contact their airline for carriage policies prior to arriving at the airport. Firearms and ammunition are prohibited at TSA security checkpoints.
“Anyone traveling with a firearm must follow the rules and pack it properly in checked baggage in addition to declaring it to the airline,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “Passengers who bring a firearm to the security checkpoint present a security risk, and there are consequences for doing so. I applaud the work of our Transportation Security Officers for their dedication to our transportation security mission, ensuring these firearms do not get into the secure area of the airport and on board aircraft.”
When passengers bring firearms to the TSA security checkpoint, TSOs contact local law enforcement to check the contents of the carry-on bag, safely unload and take possession of the firearm and process the passenger in accordance with local laws on firearms. TSA will impose a civil penalty up to $14,950, eliminate TSA PreCheck® eligibility for five years and may require enhanced screening. Some passengers will be arrested or cited, depending on local laws on firearms.
The number of firearm catches during the first half of 2023 represents a 6% increase over the same period in 2022. However, over the same period, passenger volume at checkpoints increased 15%, showing the rate at which passengers brought firearms to airport checkpoints declined in 2023. As of June 30, 2023, TSA stopped about eight firearms per million passengers. During the first half of calendar year 2022, TSA prevented 8.5 firearms per million passengers.
During the second quarter of 2023, TSOs stopped 1,744 firearms at airport checkpoints of which more than 92% of those firearms were loaded. During the second quarter of 2022, TSOs prevented 1,686 firearms from entering the secure area of airports of which about 86% of those firearms were loaded.
Firearm possession laws vary by state and local government, but firearms are prohibited at TSA security checkpoints, in the secure area of an airport, and on board aircraft, even if a passenger has a concealed carry permit
“Salfe zone” “No firearms” will make flights “safer” another joke! LOL
So with Frank’s comment, the TSA’s role has shifted now from targeting terrorists to US citizens.
There will always be a small group of stupid (replace ‘stupid’ with any adjective that describes someone(s) who bring an unauthorized gun or other weapon on a commercial aircraft, either intentionally or inadvertently). As the population of air travelers grow, so will this small subset. I don’t fly often, but I would much rather we all go through a TSA screening and hope that the weapons are discovered prior to the flight. This is the world we live in now and it is unlikely to change back to the pre-9/11 days.
As a native US citizen, I have never felt targeted going through a TSA screening. It isn’t personal, it’s business (to paraphrase the Godfather series). Your mileage may vary.
With Pre Check it’s basically about what it was pre-911. Just a bit more ornery with liquid restrictions etc but overall I prefer keeping guns out of aircraft cabins .