Data journalist Niall McCarthy of Statista reported last week that TSA agents discovered that a passenger had a rocket launcher in his checked baggage in Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. He was identified as a member of the U.S. military returning home from Kuwait and the non-functional rocket launcher was a souvenir from his time spent in the Middle East.

But rocket launchers are not the only weapons passengers are packing. Authorities found a record 4,239 firearms at U.S. airports last year, a record high, according to McCarthy. The Transportation Security Administration released the data, adding that 86 percent of the guns were loaded at the time of discovery while 33.7 percent had a round chambered. On a weekly basis, an average of 81.6 firearms were intercepted at U.S. airports last year. The number found has been rising steadily since records began in 2005. Back in 2007, only 803 guns were found in carry-on baggage, quite a difference compared to more than 4,000 today, McCarthy reported.

McCarthy also noted that Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson International was the top hub for discoveries in 2018 with 298 guns intercepted there. Dallas Fort Worth International came second (219) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International ranked third (129). Firearms aren't the only hazardous item security officials have to look out for. Last year, the TSA said that other confiscated items included live smoke grenades, an inert hand grenade and replica mortar shells. Firearm possession laws vary between states and localities. The TSA may impose civil penalties up to $13,333 per violation per person for prohibited items, McCarthy said.

BLURB FOR HEADLINES 4,239 Authorities found a record 4,239 firearms at U.S. airports last year, a record high Source: Statista, based on TSA reports