Airports juggle a variety of challenges, and one category tracked nationwide is firearms found at TSA security checkpoints. Because TSA publishes annual totals, airports can be compared directly rather than relying on anecdotes. A discovery typically means a gun was packed in a carry-on bag, sometimes with ammunition, and the traveler is referred to local law enforcement. Screening lanes keep moving, yet delays, fines, and missed flights can follow. High counts usually reflect large passenger throughput, busy connecting traffic, and uneven awareness of federal rules. The following list uses that TSA incident measure as its basis.
HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta
Atlanta leads TSA firearm discoveries largely due to its immense flow of domestic travelers and connections. Many incidents begin with a loaded handgun left in a purse, backpack, or laptop sleeve after a weekend trip. When detected, the lane is paused, officers verify the item, and police are called to handle the case. With departures spread across multiple terminals, even a small error rate yields a very high annual total. Signs and reminders help, but TSA rules apply the same in PreCheck and standard lines. The volume keeps Atlanta atop the list.
DALLAS FORT WORTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport records a large number of checkpoint gun incidents because it functions as a mega hub with long dwell times, rental car traffic, and frequent regional travel. Passengers may legally own firearms at home, yet the carry-on ban is federal and applies before boarding. Most cases are detected during routine X-ray screening, then the bag is searched, and the traveler is interviewed. Traffic surges around holidays and sports weekends can push the yearly count upward even when procedures stay unchanged. Connecting flyers who repack between legs sometimes miss a pocketed pistol in a day bag.
GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT
aerial view of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, USA
George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston ranks high in TSA firearm discoveries, blending heavy domestic demand with international departures that bring stricter documentation and longer check-in routines. Incidents often involve small handguns carried for personal protection and forgotten in carry-on luggage. Once found, the passenger can be removed from the queue, and the bag is held while officers complete paperwork. Because the airport serves many short-notice trips tied to energy and shipping, hurried packing can raise the risk of a violation. Moving items from a car console into a tote at the curb is a common setup for mistakes.
PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport appears near the top of TSA reports because many travelers come from a state where firearm carrying is common, while flying still requires different habits. A large share of the guns found at this airport are loaded, which increases the seriousness of each incident. Discoveries are usually made in normal screening, not through targeted operations, and they can trigger civil penalties. Leisure travel peaks in winter and spring, so crowded checkpoints and unfamiliar flyers can add to the annual tally. People packing for resorts may use multiple small bags, and a side pocket can be overlooked.
NASHVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Nashville International Airport terminal
Nashville International Airport has climbed in TSA firearm discovery rankings as the region’s population and visitor numbers have grown alongside year-round events. Weekend music trips bring many first-time or occasional flyers, a group that is more likely to forget what is in a carry-on. When a weapon is detected, the checkpoint process is documented, police respond, and the traveler may face charges or fines. Rapid terminal growth can increase throughput, and higher throughput tends to produce more recorded incidents over a full year. Last-minute packing in a rideshare or garage often leads to items being dropped into the wrong bag.
DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport shows high TSA firearm discovery totals because it handles huge volumes from Colorado and nearby states, where driving with a stored handgun is common. Problems often start when a pistol or magazine stays in a backpack used on a road trip, and then the same bag is carried into the checkpoint. During routine X-ray screening, the item is flagged, the lane is paused, and the traveler is referred to local police while paperwork is completed. Holiday ski traffic and outdoor season travel raise the odds of hurried packing errors, so steady procedures can still yield large yearly counts.
ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport records many TSA firearm incidents because its travelers skew toward families and vacationers who fly a few times a year. That group is more likely to miss a handgun left in a carry-on after a day at the range, or to forget a firearm stored in a small purse or diaper bag pocket. When it is detected, TSA performs a bag check, documents the case, and calls law enforcement, which can disrupt an entire group’s departure. Peak school breaks and holiday travel push checkpoint lines and increase rushed repacking, so sheer passenger volume drives the totals. Civil penalties can be assessed even when no intent is claimed.