Bullet discovered on commercial jet at major airport sparks security scare

The incident occurred Feb. 17 on a flight bound for Miami. The plane was declared a crime scene and was searched and cleared by authorities before departing after a nearly three-hour delay.

"Security personnel cleared the aircraft, which later departed for Miami," the company's statement concluded.

After almost three hours, the plane took off at 4:49 p.m. 

TSA rules strictly prohibit firearms in carry-on baggage. 

Ammunition must be unloaded, locked in a hard-sided container and declared to the airline at the check-in counter as checked baggage, according to the agency. 

Firearm magazines and ammunition clips, loaded or empty, need to be securely boxed or included within a hard-sided case containing an unloaded firearm.

A Mississippi man was arrested in Oct. 2024 after TSA officers intercepted disassembled gun parts concealed in a boot and a Lego box. 

"The gun frame was jammed in the bottom of a boot below a sock … The gun's slide, spring and gun magazine loaded with 12 bullets were detected mixed among the plastic pieces of a Black Panther Lego set."