HOUSTON – Police say a gun was found inside a passenger's carry-on baggage at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Officials say Transportation Security Administration officers at a security checkpoint discovered the gun in a man's bag at an X-ray machine in Terminal C around 10 a.m. Monday.
Police say the man told officers he forgot the gun was in his bag.
Travelers found that hard to believe.
"You go home and you get ready for your flight and you worry about not bringing something, a liquid too big. So I think they know," said traveler Lisa Mascera. "They definitely know."
Houston police say the man did not have a criminal past, and after some questioning, he was allowed to leave the gun behind and board his flight.
TSA says a total of 25 guns have been found at both of Houston's airports so far this year.
Last year, 68 guns were found at IAH. Only airports in Dallas and Atlanta had more.
Those numbers do not include other weapons, like knives.
"I think that's a lot. I don't know what other civilized countries are like, but it seems a lot in this country," said traveler Brett Caldwell.
Nationwide, guns confiscated at airports have risen every year since 2010.
Last year, nearly five firearms were discovered per day in airports across the country. Of those, more than 80 percent were loaded.
TSA said when a weapon is found by airport security, they first notify airport police and local law enforcement.