Officials: Armed travelers trying to board planes set record

WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal officials say a record number of airline passengers were caught last year trying to take guns on planes, and most of the weapons were loaded.

The Transportation Security Administration says 2,653 firearms were found in carry-on bags in 2015, a 20 percent increase over the previous year, which had been a record. More than four out of five were loaded.

Airports with the most gun discoveries were Dallas-Fort Worth, 153; Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, 144; Houston George Bush, 100; Denver, 90, and Phoenix, 73.

TSA screened 708 million passengers in 2015, 40 million more than in 2014.

Weapons of any kind are prohibited in carry-on bags. However, passengers can take guns with them when they fly if they are in checked bags, unloaded, properly packed and declared to the airline.