No Aircraft
Flight Attendant Current
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Security; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
Going through the crew security line; my purse was flagged for additional screening by TSA. I was taken to a private room immediately adjacent to the conveyor belt and asked if I knew there was a firearm in my purse. At that time; I was shocked to realize that I had made an honest mistake and unintentionally left my legally owned handgun in my purse. I had meant to leave it in my car the previous morning. However; I became distracted while rushing to work for [early morning] check-in; finding a parking spot in a nearly full garage; and forgot to remove the handgun from my purse and leave it in my car. I legally own this handgun but did not knowingly; or intentionally carry this firearm to work in my purse. I made an honest mistake by not leaving it in my car.
Air carrier Flight Attendant reported unknowingly enter the TSA security checkpoint with a legally owned firearm in possession.