NEWS: TSA Reports Lower Number Of Firearms Found in 2024

The Transportation Security Administration, better known as the TSA, found fewer firearms in passengers’ carry-on luggage in 2024.

Let’s fly!

The TSA officers in Orlando found 150 firearms in passengers’ baggage in 2024 compared to the 164 found the previous year. The entire state of Florida also saw a decrease across all airports of firearms found.

When traveling anywhere, you want to know you’re safe! The TSA, which scans passengers and their luggage before they can hop on their flight, are the people that help give you that peace of mind. We don’t always love those backed-up security lines at the airport, but we do understand the need for them!

Orlando International Airport

In 2024, the TSA found a total of 817 firearms in carry-on bags across all Florida Airports, they shared in a recently released report. This total is also down from 2023 where they found 834 firearms. Across the country, TSA screened over 904 million passengers before they hopped on their flights. In Florida specifically, they screened 114.4 million departing travelers which is 3.5% more than in 2023.

Orlando International Airport

For those 817 firearms found, the TSA has a specific process to follow once it’s seen on the x-ray screen. Once the image of the firearm is notified, TSA will alert the local airport law enforcement agency, which then comes to the security checkpoint. An officer will remove the firearm from the X-ray tunnel and identify and speak with the traveler it belongs to. What happens after that is up to the discretion of the airport law enforcement agency.

Security lines!

If for any reason you need to travel with your firearm on a commercial flight it must be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided case, and put into your checked baggage. You also need to go to your airline ticket counter to declare the firearm, ammunition, and any additional parts. We tend to be the people at the airport a minimum of 2 hours before our flight takes off but if you need to stop by the airline ticket counter, you might want to budget even more time.

TSA lines!

If you didn’t know, you can actually see security wait times before you get to the airport so you can try to gauge just how early you need to be. The security wait times, parking lot information, and more can all be found on the MCO website. If you’re looking to skip the security line for free, you can also try out MCO’s Reserve which you can learn more about here.

©MCO

While waiting in security lines is almost never going to be the most exciting part of your vacation, it is a necessary one if you’re flying! We might get annoyed with you, TSA, but we appreciate you nonetheless. It’s kinda like a sibling relationship if you think about it. As always, don’t forget to follow DFB for all of your travel news and updates.