As expected, 2021 was a record year for gun seizures at TSA airport screening points.
Up to 21 December, TSA screeners seized more than 5,700 firearms, a hefty increase on the 4,432 firearms found in 2019.
It represented an even bigger rise in seizure rate per passenger, based on the lower number of air travelers overall.
TSA spokesperson R. Carter Langston said about 85% of the firearms found in 2021 were loaded.
There have been several theories raised why more guns are being found in carry-on bags, including a big jump in US gun sales since the start of the pandemic.
"It’s a trend with guns in America and now we are seeing more guns at airports," Langston said.
The TSA said Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta was the airport with the most guns discovered at passenger screening, followed by Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
