Man boards American Airlines flight from Barbados with a loaded gun

An 83-year-old passenger boarded an American Airlines flight from Barbados with a loaded Ruger revolver in his pants pocket, authorities said. He then flew to Miami. The breach at Barbados' Grantley Adams International Airport raised concerns about the Caribbean nation's level of security, which is a popular tourist destination. The Transportation Security Administration said an international team will travel to collaborate with local officials on improvements. Following his arrival at Miami International Airport from the island's capital city of Bridgetown, passenger Cameron Hinds sent his briefcase through a security screening in preparation for his connecting flight to Orlando, authorities said.

The .32-caliber weapon, loaded with five rounds, was discovered in the black case by a TSA X-ray operator. Hinds was arrested and charged with concealing a weapon by Miami-Dade Police.

In Miami-Dade Circuit Court, he entered a not guilty plea. His attorney did not respond immediately Friday to a request for comment. According to court records, he was released on his own recognisance pending the outcome of additional legal proceedings.

Since the pandemic began, the TSA has screened the majority of passengers.

Hinds told police that after clearing customs, he remembered the gun in his pocket and placed it in his carry-on bag before reaching the TSA checkpoint.

"We are extremely proud of our officers who immediately intercepted the gun as the individual entered security to board a domestic flight," TSA spokeswoman Sari Koshetz said.

"This is a rare occurrence, and one that we take very seriously. It demonstrates why we do conduct international passenger screening prior to connecting to a domestic flight in the United States." Koshetz added.

Koshetz declined to comment on whether Hinds' actions constituted an error or an intentional threat, stating that the determination would be made by Barbados and Miami authorities. The TSA's mission, she explained, is to avert threats in either case.

Neval Greenidge, Barbados' consul general in Miami, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, Greenidge told South Florida's NBC 6, which broke the storey, that the "blunder" occurred after a security agent patted Hinds down. Greenidge told the station that the revolver was concealed in Hinds's bag, beneath a laptop. However, Greenidge stated that the laptop should have been removed as part of the screening process in Barbados, and that precautions are being taken to avoid a repeat.

The TSA "works with countries to provide assistance, guidance, and assessments to ensure that an airport's security posture meets established international standards," the agency said in a statement, noting that it lacks regulatory authority over foreign airports. The agency "took immediate action to contact the Barbados government and airline to obtain additional information following the launch of an investigation in Barbados," it stated.