A Delta passenger brought a gun on a flight as the government shutdown spurs TSA agents across the country to abandon work
- A Delta Air Lines passenger boarded a January 2 flight with a firearm, a Delta representative confirmed to Business Insider.
- The Delta representative said that once the passenger disclosed the firearm's presence, the airline contacted the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
- A TSA representative said "standard procedures were not followed" during the screening process, but said the agency was not experiencing a staffing issue due to the government shutdown on the day of the incident.
A Delta Air Lines passenger boarded a January 2 flight with a firearm, a Delta representative confirmed to Business Insider. The flight was traveling from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to Tokyo Narita International Airport.
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A Delta representative told Business Insider that once the passenger disclosed the firearm's presence, the airline contacted the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
A TSA representative said "standard procedures were not followed" during the screening process, but said the agency was not experiencing a staffing issue due to the government shutdown on the day of the incident. The percentage of TSA employees who called out from work on January 2, 5%, was the same as on January 3, 2018, the representative said.
"TSA will hold those responsible appropriately accountable," the representative added.
TSA employees have been required to work without pay during the federal government shutdown, which began on December 22, though they will be eligible to receive back pay once the shutdown ends. Since the shutdown began, a large number of TSA workers have been absent from airports, and Hydrick Thomas, the president of the TSA worker's union, said some workers have quit or considered quitting.
TSA administrator David Pekoske said on Friday via Twitter that the agency's screening officers will receive a $500 bonus.