A US on-duty pilot has been charged with a number of firearms offences after baggage screening agents at Calgary International airport discovered a loaded handgun in the pilot’s carry-on bag.
A loaded Smith and Wesson .380-calibre handgun was seized as it was passing through the X-ray machine.
Flight crew member Joshua Petty White, 38 from Utah was preparing to fly back into the US after a stop-over in Calgary and has been charged with a number of offences under the Canadian Firearms Act.
These include unlawful storage, handling and transport of a firearm, and possession of a prohibited weapon.
He was charged and subsequently released on a $4,000 bond.
He is due to appear in court on April 29.
Incidents of this type involving flight crew "happen very rarely", according to airport police spokesman Kevin Brookwell.
He also acknowledged that there are some laws allowing weapons in the cockpit on US flights in certain circumstances, although he was unable to determine if the accused had that authority in the US.
The Canadian Airport Transport Security Authority made a clear distinction between Canadian and US regulations.
"Canada’s laws are clear: travellers must declare all goods, including any firearms and weapons in their possession when they enter Canada," it said.
Authorities have not said publicly which airline the pilot works for.
by Ray Montgomery, Editor TravelMole US
