Pilot Arrested After Discovery of Loaded Gun in Carry-On

Pilot Arrested After Discovery of Loaded Gun in Carry-On

A pilot was arrested at a Florida airport after his loaded gun was found in a carry-on bag.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Oct 30, 2018

Authorities in Florida report the arrest of an airline pilot after a loaded gun was found in his carry-on. The pilot, a 54-year-old man, who worked for Sun County Airlines was arrested when the Transportation Security Administration found a loaded pistol in his suitcase during screening.

The News-Press identified Brian Andrew Machtemes of Minnetonka, Minn. as the arrested pilot. He was taken into custody at Southwest Florida International Airport. A Lee County Port Authority report says Machtemes had a permit to carry the gun in Minnesota, but the permit was not valid in Florida.

Airline spokesperson Kristen Wenker confirmed Machtemes is a pilot, but declined further common for privacy reasons.

The TSA allows unloaded firearms locked in containers only as checked baggage. The firearm and its ammunition must be declared at the time the traveler is checking the baggage. 

For several years, the TSA has reported finding record numbers of firearms at airport checkpoints as both the number of people flying and the number of people legally carrying firearms have increased. In just 2017 alone, the TSA levied 4,000 civil penalties totaling $1.4 million against travelers who violated firearms regulations at airports around the country. 

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • The Next Generation

    Video security technology has reached an inflection point. With advancements in cloud infrastructure and internet bandwidth, hybrid cloud solutions can now deliver new capabilities and business opportunities for security professionals and their customers. Read Now

  • Help Your Customer Protect Themselves

    In the world of IT, insider threats are on a steep upward trajectory. The cost of these threats - including negligent and malicious employees that may steal authorized users’ credentials, rose from $8.3 million in 2018 to $16.2 million in 2023. Insider threats towards physical infrastructures often bleed into the realm of cybersecurity; for instance, consider an unauthorized user breaching a physical data center and plugging in a laptop to download and steal sensitive digital information. Read Now

  • Enhanced Situation Awareness

    Did someone break into the building? Maybe it is just an employee pulling an all-nighter. Or is it an actual perpetrator? Audio analytics, available in many AI-enabled cameras, can add context to what operators see on the screen, helping them validate assumptions. If a glass-break detection alert is received moments before seeing a person on camera, the added situational awareness makes the event more actionable. Read Now

  • Transformative Advances

    Over the past decade, machine learning has enabled transformative advances in physical security technology. We have seen some amazing progress in using machine learning algorithms to train computers to assess and improve computational processes. Although such tools are helpful for security and operations, machines are still far from being capable of thinking or acting like humans. They do, however, offer unique opportunities for teams to enhance security and productivity. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings. 3