On April 15, a passenger was removed from a United Airlines flight at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) after a firearm was detected during security screening. The incident, captured on police body camera and reported by Local 12 on May 13, involved Besnik Ismajlaj, who reached into an X-ray machine to retrieve his bag containing the weapon before it could be confiscated.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer identified the image of a gun during routine checks. However, Ismajlaj managed to leave for his flight with the bag before authorities could intervene. Police later located him on the plane, where he did not resist arrest. He was charged with carrying a concealed firearm at the airport.
A TSA supervisor noted that the incident occurred during a shift change at the checkpoint. According to a Chicago Police Department report cited by CBS News Chicago, officers confronted Ismajlaj, who acknowledged having the gun in his bag. Upon inspection, they found a loaded Glock 9mm semiautomatic pistol.