Transportation Security Administration officers intercepted four guns at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport during 2024, tying the airport for third place in the state.
Pittsburgh International Airport led the state with 42 guns caught, followed by 40 at Philadelphia International Airport.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton tied Harrisburg International Airport for third place with four guns each. Lehigh Valley International Airport ranked fourth, with three guns.
Statewide, the TSA reported intercepting 97 handguns at Pennsylvania airport security checkpoints in 2024, a slight decrease from the 103 detected in 2023.
Across the country, the agency intercepted 6,678 firearms at airport checkpoints last year.
“Our officers across the state are to be commended for their continued vigilance in ensuring that no prohibited or illegal items are carried onto a flight,” Gerardo Spero, TSA’s federal security director for Pennsylvania, said in a statement. “It was good to see fewer people bringing their guns to our checkpoints in 2024, however it continued to be disappointing to see individuals who were still bringing their firearms to our security checkpoints.”
The TSA reminded travelers that guns cannot be taken in carry-on baggage and must be checked with luggage in a locked, hard-sided case. Ammunition must be in its original box and can be packed inside the locked case.
![SCRANTON — Lyndsay Berra nearly missed the testimony she had come to hear Tuesday about how thieves stole nine of her grandfather’s World Series rings in 2014 as they sat in the museum bearing his name. Berra is still angry that her “Grandpa Yogi’s” rings were stolen in 2014, shortly before his death in 2015, but in some way, she’s moved past it. As she sat in the courtroom Tuesday, she had questions about how Tommy Trotta and his gang of thieves got into the secure museum. Trotta, speaking clearly and calmly, detailed how he broke into the Yogi Berra […]](https://www.citizensvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SC_TIMES_TRIB-20240407-A-PG5-TT062423HEIST_WARHOL-06EEFA24.jpg?w=357 "SCRANTON — Lyndsay Berra nearly missed the testimony she had come to hear Tuesday about how thieves stole nine of her grandfather’s World Series rings in 2014 as they sat in the museum bearing his name. Berra is still angry that her “Grandpa Yogi’s” rings were stolen in 2014, shortly before his death in 2015, but in some way, she’s moved past it. As she sat in the courtroom Tuesday, she had questions about how Tommy Trotta and his gang of thieves got into the secure museum. Trotta, speaking clearly and calmly, detailed how he broke into the Yogi Berra […]")
![A 30-year-old man from Hunlock Creek is in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility on felony charges he robbed an undisclosed amount of money from M&T Bank at 800 Wyoming Ave. in Kingston around 2:35 p.m. Friday, according to police and court records. Kenneth Besecker was denied bail at a preliminary arraignment Saturday morning because he is unlikely to abide by bail conditions, court records say. Besecker fled the bank on foot and was arrested about two hours later near his home by members of the Pennsylvania State Police after law enforcement officials successfully identified him. Kingston Police Chief Richard Kotchik […]](https://www.citizensvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/CVC-L-KENNETHBESECKERRESIZE-0126-01.jpg?w=620 "A 30-year-old man from Hunlock Creek is in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility on felony charges he robbed an undisclosed amount of money from M&T Bank at 800 Wyoming Ave. in Kingston around 2:35 p.m. Friday, according to police and court records. Kenneth Besecker was denied bail at a preliminary arraignment Saturday morning because he is unlikely to abide by bail conditions, court records say. Besecker fled the bank on foot and was arrested about two hours later near his home by members of the Pennsylvania State Police after law enforcement officials successfully identified him. Kingston Police Chief Richard Kotchik […]")
