York County man brought loaded handgun to BWI airport, police say

A Newberry Township man has been charged after he brought a loaded handgun to Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport over the weekend, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority Police.

Alessandro Zangari, 51, of the first block of Paddock Court, has been charged with wearing/transporting a firearm on his person and interfering with security proceedures.

He was released on his own recognizance, according to court records.

Zangari allegedly had a .380-caliber handgun in his carry-on bag at the airport on Saturday morning, Cpl. Edward Bartlinski said. It was loaded with seven bullets, including one in the chamber.

An officer spotted the gun when the bag went through the X-ray machine at the security checkpoint, the Transportation Security Administration said in a news release.

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Zangari told TSA officials that he forgot that he had his loaded handgun with him, Bartlinski said.

Police were called and ,Zangari was arrested.

He could not be reached for comment.

Zangari's gun was the seventh one caught at the airport so far this year, the release states.

Another York County man was arrested at the airport last spring because he, too, had a handgun in his carry-on.

Joseph John Giandalia of Wrightsville had brought an unloaded 9mm handgun into the airport, police said at the time.

Anyone who brings firearms to an airport checkpoint can face criminal charges. Even those with firearms permits cannot bring guns onto airplanes.

Civil penalties also can be assessed. For a first offense, the traveler could pay $3,900, the release states.