OHIO — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) revealed data that showed there is a growing problem across the country and in Ohio for people trying to bring firearms through airport checkpoints.

Jessica Mayle with TSA said that in 2023, the agency detected 38 firearms at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and 55 firearms at the John Glenn International Airport in Columbus.

“Overwhelmingly passengers say, ‘oh my gosh, I forgot I had that in my bag.' They didn’t mean to do it; they just weren’t thinking when they brought the bag and put it through security,” she said.

Mayle explained firearms are not the only items that get passengers stopped at the checkpoint. She said the items they see most are oversized liquids, aerosols and big bottles of water. There are also some items that could be seen as weapons that TSA has to take away.

“Those self-defense type items, like stun guns, pepper spray, kind of those knuckles that would go over your hand and again those are items that a lot of people just keep in their purse or they keep in their pocket. They don’t really think about them being weapons that you wouldn’t want to have in an airplane,” she said.

Other things that can be taken are tools, some kinds of wine openers, specific types of nail clippers and more. Mayle explained what happens after an item is detected by TSA.

“So, we find an item, we say ‘is this yours,’ and you sa,y 'yeah,' and we say, 'it can’t go through.' You have the choice, you can either take it back, you can check the bag, you can return it to your car, you can give it to someone who’s not traveling,” she said.

TSA donates to the state many of the items that they confiscate. Mayle stressed any item abandoned by a passenger to TSA will not be there when you return from your trip and to double check your bags before heading to the airport.