A Delta Air Lines passenger boarded a flight from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to Tokyo International Airport on January 2 with a firearm, a Delta representative confirmed to Business Insider.
Read more: As TSA agents go unpaid, Travis Scott and Kanye West songs are blasting through JFK's loudspeakers
A Delta representative told Business Insider that once the passenger disclosed the firearm's presence, the airline contacted the Transportation Security Administration.
A TSA representative said that "standard procedures were not followed" during the screening process but that the agency was not experiencing a staffing issue due to the government shutdown on the day of the incident. The percentage of TSA employees who called out from work on January 2 — 5% — was the same as on January 3, the representative said.
"TSA will hold those responsible appropriately accountable," the representative added.
TSA employees have been required to work without pay during the federal government shutdown, which began on December 22, though they will be eligible to receive back pay once the shutdown ends. Since the shutdown began, many TSA workers have been absent from airports, and Hydrick Thomas, the president of the TSA worker's union, said some had quit or considered quitting.
TSA Administrator David Pekoske said on Friday via Twitter that the agency's screening officers would receive a $500 bonus.
If you've worked for TSA and have a story to share, you can contact this reporter at mmatousek@jkmperu.com.
