Jun 5, 2009 5:51 am US/Eastern
Charges Filed In Discovery Of Gun On PHL Flight
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Two people, including an airline employee, have been charged with getting a concealed handgun onto a Philadelphia flight bound for Arizona early Thursday morning.
US Airways employee Roshid Milledge, 38, and passenger Damien Young, 29, both of South Philadelphia, have been charged in federal court and remain in police custody.
According to sources, a witness apparently notified TSA officials after spotting Milledge exchange a carry-on bag with his friend and roommate, Young, at Philadelphia International Airport. The carry-on reportedly contained a handgun and ammunition.
"The employee accessed the secure area through an employee entrance, using an employee ID badge that allowed him to bypass security," JJ Klaver of the FBI explained.
Sources said Milledge gave Young the bag at the gate shortly before he boarded the plane.
Authorities say Young handed the bag to Milledge so it would not go through the security screening.
Authorities stopped US Airways Flight 1195 as it began its departure from the airport.
Investigators located the carry-on bag in question on board and found an unloaded 9mm handgun along with ammunition inside.
Passengers were taken off the flight and rescreened as a precaution. Sources tell Eyewitness News during that second screening, a box cutter was also found which had cleared the initial screening.
The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 7:10 a.m., was cleared to leave at about 10:55 a.m. It landed at the Phoenix airport without incident.
Investigators said the gun was properly registered to Young, who was moving to Phoenix, and he had a valid permit. Young was trying to bring his gun with him to Phoenix, police said.
Both Milledge and Young are facing felony charges.
The FBI, Philadelphia Police and TSA are investigating.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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