Airport security finds gun in passenger’s bag

Security staff at Ben-Gurion International Airport discovered a loaded pistol in the luggage of a man who was about to board a flight to Turkey on Wednesday.

The man claimed that he had forgotten that the weapon was in his bag. After clarifying that there were no security concerns with the flight, the man was transferred to police custody.

The airport authority appealed to travelers to carefully check their hand luggage for weapons or ammunition, as the discovery of such items could cause complications with officials in foreign countries.

Israeli citizens who have gun permits are authorized to carry their weapons with them inside Israel at all times; many, in fact, do for personal protection and in case of a terror attack. Carrying firearms on a flight is strictly forbidden, but occasionally travelers forget that they are still armed when they arrive at the airport.