49 CFR § 1540.111 - Carriage of weapons, explosives, and incendiaries by individuals.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s1540.111"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 1540.111 - Carriage of weapons, explosives, and incendiaries by individuals."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "1540.111"
section_name: "Carriage of weapons, explosives, and incendiaries by individuals."
chapter_name: "TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "CIVIL AVIATION SECURITY"
part_number: "1540"
part_name: "CIVIL AVIATION SECURITY: GENERAL RULES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 114, 5103, 40113, 44901-44907, 44913-44914, 44916-44918, 44925, 44935-44936, 44942, 46105."
regulatory_source: "67 FR 8353, Feb. 22, 2002, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "1540"
---


# 1540.111 Carriage of weapons, explosives, and incendiaries by individuals.

(a) *On an individual's person or accessible property—prohibitions.* Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, an individual may not have a weapon, explosive, or incendiary, on or about the individual's person or accessible property—

(1) When performance has begun of the inspection of the individual's person or accessible property before entering a sterile area, or before boarding an aircraft for which screening is conducted under this subchapter;

(2) When the individual is entering or in a sterile area; or

(3) When the individual is attempting to board or onboard an aircraft for which screening is conducted under §§ 1544.201, 1546.201, or 1562.23 of this chapter.

(b) *On an individual's person or accessible property—permitted carriage of a weapon.* Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply as to carriage of firearms and other weapons if the individual is one of the following:

(1) Law enforcement personnel required to carry a firearm or other weapons while in the performance of law enforcement duty at the airport.

(2) An individual authorized to carry a weapon in accordance with §§ 1544.219, 1544.221, 1544.223, 1546.211, or subpart B of part 1562 of this chapter.

(3) An individual authorized to carry a weapon in a sterile area under a security program.

(c) *In checked baggage.* A passenger may not transport or offer for transport in checked baggage or in baggage carried in an inaccessible cargo hold under § 1562.23 of this chapter:

(1) Any loaded firearm(s).

(2) Any unloaded firearm(s) unless—

(i) The passenger declares to the aircraft operator, either orally or in writing, before checking the baggage, that the passenger has a firearm in his or her bag and that it is unloaded;

(ii) The firearm is unloaded;

(iii) The firearm is carried in a hard-sided container; and

(iv) The container in which it is carried is locked, and only the passenger retains the key or combination.

(3) Any unauthorized explosive or incendiary.

(d) *Ammunition.* This section does not prohibit the carriage of ammunition in checked baggage or in the same container as a firearm. Title 49 CFR part 175 provides additional requirements governing carriage of ammunition on aircraft.

[67 FR 8353, Feb. 22, 2002, as amended at 67 FR 41639, June 19, 2002; 70 FR 41600, July 19, 2005; 71 FR 30507, May 26, 2006]