Another ‘forgetful’ US traveller is in trouble for a firearm found in his hand luggage.
This time it was completely missed at TSA screening and only discovered after he arrived hours later in Hong Kong.
In this case there is much higher media scrutiny as the passenger is an elected Washington State Senator.
Sen. Jeff Wilson was detained at Hong Kong International Airport.
He was initially detained and has been bailed to face a hearing on 30 October.
Wilson claims he noticed the gun in his carry-on bag during the flight and reported it to customs officials after landing.
“It was an honest mistake, and I expect the situation to be resolved shortly,” he said.
He rejected media reports that the gun was discovered during a bag check in Hong Kong.
The gun is properly registered in the state of Washington.
Wilson and his wife are on a personal trip to Southeast Asia.
He had departed from Portland International Airport and connected onto an international service to Hong Kong at San Francisco.
The TSA at Portland are investigating the lapse.
The agency is now seizing nearly 20 guns at US airports every day.
Last year a record 6,542 firearms were seized and the TSA expects this will be surpassed by the end of this year.
