Charlotte Douglas Airport firearm discoveries hit all-time high in 2022, TSA says

CHARLOTTE — Firearm discoveries were at an all-time high at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 2022 despite a dip in numbers statewide, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

In new data provided by TSA, a total of 250 firearms were found in carry-on luggage in North Carolina, which is down from the 254 firearms that were found in 2021.

Despite the decrease, Charlotte Douglas still set a record for firearm detections at security checkpoints.

Officers at Charlotte Douglas found 117 firearms in 2022, compared to the 106 that were found a year earlier. The Asheville Regional Airport also saw an all-time high when it comes to firearms, with 25 detected.

Concord-Padgett Regional only had three firearm discoveries last year. The Raleigh-Durham Airport saw the second highest in the state at 74. Nationwide, there were 6,542 firearm findings.

TSA estimates they screened around 19.79 million departing travelers at airports across the state, a 27% jump from last year.

In the U.S., a firearm was detected for every 116,394 passengers screened. In North Carolina, the rate was even higher with one firearm discovered for every 79,167 passengers screened, according to officials.

Travelers face civil penalties for bringing a firearm to a security checkpoint and could also face criminal citations as well.

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