Security officials at John Wayne Airport arrested a man after they found a loaded handgun in his carry-on bag, a Transportation Safety Administration spokesman said today.
Minhchau Pham, 43, of Hillsborough was arrested Monday about 7:15 p.m. while on his way to board Southwest flight 458 to Las Vegas, TSA spokesman Nico Melendez said.
"The passenger put his carry-on bag on the X-ray belt and security officers saw a loaded .38 caliber Smith & Wesson with five rounds of ammunition," Melendez said.
Melendez said passengers are allowed to transport handguns but they have to follow the rules.
"As long as they are in checked baggage, unloaded and declared to the airline," Melendez said.
Pham was being held on $20,000 bail, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
