NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A third traveler in the last 12 days was caught with a gun by Transportation Security Administration officers in Norfolk International Airport early Sunday morning.

The passenger was cited by airport police after TSA officers caught the Florida man with a loaded gun in his carry-on bag.

The traveler was carrying a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun loaded with eight bullets, including one in the chamber. The Florida man was ticketed to fly into Ronald Reagan Washington Airport.

A TSA officer who was monitoring the ORF checkpoint x-ray machine spotted the loaded gun in a carry-on bag.

Earlier in March, two Virginia residents were caught by TSA with loaded guns in their carry-on bags at the airport and were cited by airport police.

Officials say the first happened March 6, when a Chesapeake man was stopped with a 9 mm caliber handgun loaded with five bullets in a carry-on bag.

A Hampton man was then caught on March 15 having a .22 caliber handgun in his carry-on. This gun was loaded with five bullets – including one in the chamber.

Officials say that in both incidents, the guns were stopped at checkpoint x-ray machines.

Individuals who bring weapons to a checkpoint are subject to federal civil penalties up to $13,000.

TSA has information on how to properly travel with a firearm here.