A gun discovered at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport last week was the fourth uncovered at the security checkpoint this year, a Transportation Security Administration spokesman said today.
Mark Howell of the TSA said at Lovell Field that authorities are seeing a big increase in prohibited items, such as guns, knives and oversize bottles, at the nation’s airports.
Howell showed off a variety of items found by the TSA at regional airports, including a hand grenade in Knoxville.
The items are slowing down bag checks by TSA and contributing to longer lines and passenger wait times at airports, he said.
“We’re working with Congress to try to get more folks,” Howell said, also citing big hikes in passenger traffic at many airports, including in Chattanooga.