Philadelphia International Airport gun mishap: Flight attendant's weapon accidentally discharged

AP Photo

(CBS/AP) PHILADELPHIA - Police said a gun belonging to a flight attendant was accidentally fired inside Philadelphia International Airport on Sunday morning.

CBS Station KYW reports that, according to officials, a female flight attendant trying to pass through security was stopped shortly after 7 a.m. when a handgun was discovered in her handbag.

The woman and her gun were detained and the TSA called police.

Investigators said the woman had forgotten to take the gun out of her purse before leaving for work.

As a police officer was trying to remove the bullets to make the weapon safe, he accidentally discharged the gun once. The bullet struck the floor. No one was injured.

The weapon was legal and the flight attendant did have a valid permit to carry it.

The woman was issued a ticket for passing the gun through a security checkpoint.

Philadelphia police Lt. Ray Evers said the discharge is being investigated by Internal Affairs, and the officer who accidentally discharged the gun will go back to training on handling weapons.

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[KStud7]

Half A$$ reporting, first of all it was a female cop who tried to unload a s&w hammerless revolver, which is impossible to discharge unless you pull the trigger.
The public does not need to know that the bullet just missed a supervisor and went through a TSA break room where someone was sitting.
We don't want to forget about the passengers, according to this article, everything is ok, because know one was hurt.

[lillyhorton]

FORMERLYLUVNUT, why did you even comment? You made 5 comments. Duh. totally off subject. yup, then off to jail with a slew of charges. yupper. (what the heck lady, yupper? yup was bad enough.) Wow you are quick AINCHA. poop for brains.

I am beside myself. You have the audasity to put others down. Just go back to bed. Have sex whatever it takes to make you a better person.

[erasmus111]

by ZionistCensorship September 24, 2012 5:37 PM EDT
Did lilly get any spelling, grammar, or punctuation, with that GED (Good Enough Degree)????????????


Who cares?? I thought that was pretty funny.

[rwsmith29456]

This had to be a semi-auto. I'd like a semi-auto pistol for target shooting, but I've personally known this to happen too many times to people that are experienced with the guns. I guess I'll stick to double action revolvers.

[rwsmith29456]

Oh, and some sympathy for the policeman. Semi-autos vary WIDELY from one make and model to another. Generally learning about weapons and concentrating on the one that they use doesn't make one an expert with a particular gun.

[DBQman]

OMG! A police officer in Philly can't unload a gun without discharging it! That inspires a lot of confidence...not. I'm sure the people of Philadelphia will sleep more soundly tonight knowing this guy is out there "protecting" them....

[ohgoah]

KYW shame on you! The bullet didn't just on into the floor. It barely missed a TSA Supervisor, be fore going through a glass partition of the EMPLOYEE BREAK ROOM!!!

[rwsmith29456]

One that I knew bounced off a carpeted cement floor and through a couch cushion. My friend didn't tell me where it went after that.

[ohgoah]

What carpeted floor? A couch in a checkpoint? Fact again..."going through a glass partition of the EMPLOYEE BREAK ROOM!!!"

[theskeptical1]

>> " . . the officer who accidentally discharged the gun will go back to training on handling weapons."

I'd say that sounds like a good idea. The female flight attendant who owned the gun would probably have done a better job of unloading it.

[SocialWrkrKP]

I agree.

[twmat311]

Wow; we just flew nonstop from FL to northern PA (but Phila is a usual layover) - FL TSA and flight crew seemed well trained, knowledgeable, and courteous. What's up in Phila - oops, I forgot I was carrying a gun through the TSA check? What good is it if you forget you have it?

[erasmus111]

"...chances are you will need the gun coming home, especially if it's after dark"


I'm sure glad I don't live in America.

[matt6052]

I wish there was a news organization that would identify what brands and models of guns are in the news. They think it doesn't make a difference, but it does, often. Some guns fire more easily than others.

[rightofwrong]

Guns do not accidentally discharge. An untrained idiot was the cause of this.

[RBantau]

You obviously have not handled too many guns. I have had one discharge while chambering a round. Don't just make assumptions and call names. You weren't there so you can only speculate. Even professionals can make mistakes.

[SocialWrkrKP]

As long as you keep your finger off the trigger the gun will not fire. Thats pretty much true across the board for all hand guns. I don't know of any real hand guns that will fire without something pushing on the trigger. The officer's finger probably slipped while he was racking the slide. It had to be a semi auto, when removing the bullets from a revolver, there is no way to discharge the weapon while the cylinder is open and to the side. That is why I have always liked revolvers much more. Simple, easy to operate, easy to make safe.