Man held after carrying loaded gun on flight from Barbados to Miami

Officials in Miami are investigating how a man managed to fly from Barbados to the Miami International Airport with a loaded handgun.

NBC 6 says the incident has triggered an immediate investigation by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) into the security lapse, which aviation experts say could have led to a disaster.

In security video footage exclusively obtained by NBC 6 Investigators, the airline passenger, who has been identified as Cameron Hinds, is seen being stopped at a Miami International Airport checkpoint after TSA officers found a loaded handgun in his belongings.

Hinds made his journey from Barbados, to Miami on American Airlines flight 1089. Miami police say during the flight, his Ruger revolver was with him in the cabin for the four-hour trip, and had five 32-calibre rounds in the gun’s chamber.

Hinds reportedly told police that when he boarded the plane in Barbados he had the revolver in his pants pocket.

The apparent failure in screening has sent federal security experts into high alert, as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security relies on foreign governments to maintain aviation security standards at last-point-of-departure airports with direct commercial flights to the U.S.

The TSA has notified local authorities in Barbados of the security lapse at the Grantley Adams International Airport.

Consul General for Barbados at Miami Neval Greenidge described the situation as unfortunate, noting that it was being taken extremely seriously and they have been investigating the matter since the report was received in Miami. He says Hinds was searched, patted down and scanned, but the firearm seemed to have been under a laptop. He says he thinks that’s where the blunder came as the officer reviewing his bag should have taken the laptop out, or have him take the laptop out as is customary.

Mr. Greenidge told NBC 6, screeners are being retrained and all steps taken to ensure there is no repeat of the incident.

In a statement, American Airlines said, “The safety and security of our team members and customers is our top priority. We are aware of this incident and have worked closely with law enforcement on their investigation.”

Hinds was taken to a Miami-Dade jail and charged with carrying a concealed weapon, which is a felony. He entered a not guilty plea to the charge and his case is scheduled for a court hearing Friday.

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