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Travelers stunned, TSA stumped how man's gun made it onto plane from RDU to Nashville

The Transportation Security Administration confiscates everything from water bottles to gifts at airport checkpoints nationwide, but none of the representatives who spoke to WRAL News on Friday could explain how a handgun cleared airport security at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

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By
Mark Boyle, Cullen Browder
and
Aaron Thomas, WRAL reporters

The Transportation Security Administration confiscates everything from water bottles to gifts at airport checkpoints nationwide, but none of the representatives who spoke to WRAL News on Friday could explain how a handgun cleared airport security at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

"The fact that it was so easily undetected was very alarming," musician and gun owner Cliff Waddell told WRAL News.

The TSA said a man carried a .38-caliber revolver onto a flight from Raleigh on Wednesday. Waddell was stopped at Nashville International Airport when security there detected the loaded weapon in his backpack on his return to Raleigh.

Waddell said he carried the same backpack, with the same .38-caliber revolver, onto a flight from Raleigh on Wednesday, the TSA said. Waddell says he cleared RDU security and didn't realize he was carrying the gun until it was caught by screeners in Nashville for his return flight.

A TSA spokesman said that agents at RDU were briefed on the incident Friday morning and the agency is investigating how it happened.

The TSA would not confirm whether the gun was loaded when it went through the RDU checkpoint – where it was undetected. However, the gun was loaded when agents discovered it at TSA PreCheck in Nashville.

The agency tells WRAL News that staffing wasn't a factor in the missed gun, but it would not say whether anyone would be disciplined for the oversight. For now, the TSA is investigating how it slipped through and expect additional agent training.

Traveler Andre Dawkins said he thinks there should be repercussions.

"That’s immediate termination," Dawkins said. "Everybody on that line, they need to go home."

Traveler Jeremy Moberg said, "I've had everything from tolling and torque wrenches taken out of my bag and thrown in the trash not being able to carry it through, screwdrivers. So, it's really surprising that a handgun made it through."

At the RDU on Friday, Devin Thomas found the report unbelievable.

"Since 9/11 they stepped it up quite a bit," he said. "I would have thought they'd do a better job with the strides that they're making, new technology and stuff like that."

Traveler reports oversight, concerned about airport security

On Thursday, Waddell reached out to WRAL News wanting to share his story and his concerns over airport security.

WRAL News asked Waddell how the gun ended up in his bag in the first place.

"My truck is in the shop getting repairs, and so ... when I put it in the shop, I took some things out of my truck, including my firearm," Waddell said.

Waddell spends a lot of time between Raleigh and Nashville as a singer-songwriter.

WRAL News asked Waddell why he reached out his experience.

"Primarily, it’s … this is something I take responsibility for, as far as not thoroughly checking my bag," Waddell said. "It’s easy to do and I failed do it."

TSA stopped a record number of firearms in 2022

The TSA said 2022 was a record year for firearms getting caught, with more than 6,500 guns detected at security checkpoints nationwide.
RDU saw a decrease in confiscated firearms from 100 in 2021 down to 74 in 2022.

"TSA takes its role in transportation security and this situation very seriously and is currently investigating the circumstances," TSA wrote in a statement.

The TSA said it is up to law enforcement in Tennessee on whether Waddell will face charges.

The law allows for a fine of up to $14,950 for those convicted of "bringing a firearm or other dangerous item to a security checkpoint (intentionally or unintentionally)."

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