A TSA officer screens travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Ga., November 2007. TSA expects to screen 20 million travelers this Thanksgiving season.
Chris Rank / Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Chris Rank / Bloomberg via Getty Images
A TSA officer screens travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Ga., November 2007. TSA expects to screen 20 million travelers this Thanksgiving season.
Chris Rank / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Rumors of an active shooter at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport scared and confused travelers on Saturday until the airport announced a gun had been accidentally released.
Reports of an active shooter were posted on Twitter by passengers as well as family and friends of those passing through the international hub as early as 1:30 p.m. ET. The airport’s official Twitter page posted at 1:57 p.m., nearly half an hour after the chaos began, that no shootings were taking place.
“At around 1:30pm today, a weapon was accidentally released at ATL’s security check. There was NO active gunman at the airport,” the airport said. tweeted. “APD is on the scene. More information on the situation will be made available on our social media channels.”
Accounts from inside the airport paint a picture of panic as passengers sheltered across terminals while some attempted to evacuate. Some visitors claimed to have heard screams and others claimed to have heard gunfire.
The scare comes as millions of Americans prepare to travel for Thanksgiving, traditionally the busiest travel period of the year, according to Transportation Security Management.
Firearms can legally be carried on commercial flights, but passengers must declare the weapon to the TSA and store it in their checked baggage unloaded and in a locked box. That said, some passengers either forget the rules or try to board their flight with their weapon on them.
TSA officers caught a man trying to carry this .40-caliber handgun in his duffel bag at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut on Friday. This is the 10th passenger to be arrested for carrying a loaded firearm through airport security this week.
Transportation Security Management
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Transportation Security Management
TSA officers caught a man trying to carry this .40-caliber handgun in his duffel bag at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut on Friday. This is the 10th passenger to be arrested for carrying a loaded firearm through airport security this week.
Transportation Security Management
In the last week, 10 tourists were arrested for carrying loaded guns at TSA checkpoints in Connecticut, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Follow Regulations TSA.
About 20 million people are expected to fly between November 19 and 28, as the number of COVID-19 vaccines increases across the country. TSA projects pre-pandemic travel numbers this holiday season and is advising passengers to prepare.
“We anticipate that tourism could be very close to pre-pandemic levels this holiday, and we’re staffed and prepared for holiday travelers. We’ve deployed technologies that enhance capabilities body collision detection and reduction capabilities, and it is equally important that passengers prepare travel tips for the most effective checkpoint experience,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement. Press Release. “With general vaccination rates improving nationally and greater confidence in healthy travel, more people will travel, so plan ahead, be vigilant and practice kindness.”
