Southwest Airlines Pilot Arrested in Albany for Bringing Loaded Gun onto Plane

A Southwest Airlines co-pilot was arrested on a weapons charge after security at Albany International Airport found a loaded handgun in the pilot’s carry-on bag.

New Orleans resident Erick Gibson, 55, on Monday was charged with misdemeanor criminal possession of a weapon after a TSA officer operating the X-ray machine at the Albany airport’s security checkpoint spotted the .380-caliber handgun in the pilot’s bag, according to Sheriff Craig Apple.

TSA said the gun was loaded with six bullets.

Gibson’s bag wasn’t screened before his flight from New Orleans to Albany the previous night, according to a Dallas News report. Gibson has worked with Southwest for nine years, Apple said.

It’s the second time in less than a month that a passenger was caught with a handgun in carry-on luggage. On March 27, a man was arrested after he was caught with a handgun in his bag.

Albany County Sheriff’s deputies who were called to the checkpoint took the weapon.

Gibson was released on $200 bail, Apple said.

TSA said the Southwest flight to Chicago was delayed for four hours.