ROANOKE, Virginia. – A man attempted to pass through a security checkpoint at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport with a loaded firearm on Wednesday.

According to authorities, the X-ray alerted the TSA team to the carry-on bag, and upon inspection they found a 9mm weapon with nine bullets. The weapon was subsequently confiscated by police.

The suspect may face a fine of up to $15,000, depending on the circumstances.

“Bringing a loaded gun to an airport security checkpoint creates an unnecessary safety risk for our officers and fellow travelers. We have no problems with people properly packing their firearms for a flight. Bringing a loaded handgun to a security checkpoint is not the right way to go. The right way is to place the unloaded gun in a locked hard-shell case. Then you take the case to your airline’s check-in counter and explain that you plan to travel with it. The airline will arrange for it to be transported in the belly of the plane so no one has access to it during the flight. It’s a pretty simple process.”

Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA Federal Airport Security Director

If you are interested in the full list of possible penalties for such situations, click here.

This is the fifth firearm discovered at Roanoke Airport this year.