O’Hare Airport passenger boards United Airlines flight with loaded gun

Key Takeaways

• Besnik Ismajlaj boarded a United Airlines flight at O’Hare with a loaded gun due to a TSA shift change mistake.
• TSA agents failed to call police immediately after detecting the weapon during the April 15, 2025, security breach.
• Ismajlaj was arrested onboard; he faced misdemeanor charges despite having legal firearm permits, highlighting critical protocol failures.

A major security incident took place at Chicago O’Hare Airport 🇺🇸 in April 2025 that raised big questions about airport safety. The center of the story is Besnik Ismajlaj, a passenger who boarded a United Airlines flight carrying a loaded gun in his backpack. The situation came about because of confusion during a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) shift change, showing how important it is to make sure security routines stay strong even when staff are switching shifts.

Let’s break down how everything happened, what went wrong, and why it matters — especially for travelers who expect to be safe and for everyone who works to keep airports secure.

How Did the Incident Happen?

It was around noon on April 15, 2025, at O’Hare Airport 🇺🇸’s Terminal 1. Just like every day, TSA agents were checking bags using the X-ray machines at Security Checkpoint 2. That’s when a bag belonging to Besnik Ismajlaj popped up on the X-ray monitor. Inside the bag, agents clearly saw the shape of a handgun — a loaded Glock 9mm pistol.

According to TSA rules, whenever a gun is seen inside a bag on the X-ray, staff must leave the item in the machine, avoid touching it, and call the Chicago Police Department (CPD) right away. Until police arrive, nobody should get near the bag. This protocol is meant to stop anyone from grabbing a dangerous weapon or escaping before police arrive to handle things safely.

But that’s not how things went on this day.

Mistakes During TSA Shift Change

Here’s where the shift change made things tricky. At the same time as the gun was spotted, TSA workers were switching shifts. In most jobs, shift changes might just mean a quick hello and goodbye, but at security checkpoints in busy airports like O’Hare Airport 🇺🇸, even a little confusion can have big consequences.

Reports say the TSA agents did see the gun on the X-ray and realized there was a problem. But they didn’t alert the police right away. Instead, and possibly because of the distraction of the shift change, the critical step of calling police got delayed.

In those precious moments, Besnik Ismajlaj, who had placed his bag in the machine, reached in himself and grabbed his backpack — the one holding the loaded gun. Nobody stopped him. He walked away from the security checkpoint, past the line, heading for his United Airlines gate.

As one official report put it, “the failure to apprehend him” was closely tied to “an incident that happened during a shift change.” In other words, the normal safety routines fell apart for a short time, and that short time was enough.

What Happened Next?

Once the mistake was realized, things moved quickly.

• Immediate Action: TSA and airport police temporarily shut down screening in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. This was to make sure Besnik Ismajlaj was found fast and that nobody else was in danger.
• Airport Cameras: Authorities studied airport camera footage to track Ismajlaj’s path. The images showed him reaching the gate and then getting on board a United Airlines plane.
• Boarding the Flight: Ismajlaj actually made it onto his United Airlines flight. Police moved in right before the plane was scheduled to leave.
• Arrest: Besnik Ismajlaj was arrested on the plane without anybody getting hurt. Passengers were asked to get off the plane briefly so police could do a full search and make sure nobody was in danger.
• Charges: Ismajlaj was charged with carrying a concealed firearm at an airport, which is a misdemeanor. He had a legal Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card and a concealed carry license from Illinois, but federal law is clear: you can never take a gun, even a legal one, past the security point at an airport, no matter what state permits you have.

It’s worth noting that nobody was injured during the event, and authorities say passengers were never in direct danger. Even so, the fact that someone boarded a plane with a loaded gun worried many people who count on airport security.

Key Details: At a Glance

The following table offers a quick look at the most important moments from the incident:

Blame, Responsibility, and Why the Shift Change Matters

Chicago Police and federal officials both looked closely at what went wrong. The main reason for the failure to follow protocol was the TSA shift change. Staff members were likely distracted or unclear about who should act, and in that brief period, the right steps were not taken.

CBS News Chicago tried to get more details from the TSA about why the shift change led to this lapse, but as of now, there’s no public explanation. What’s clear, though, is that handoffs, or times when one set of workers replaces another, can be risky in any security job.

These “transition times” can lead to:

• Missed information as one worker leaves and another arrives
• Poor communication about what’s happening at that exact moment
• Temporary shortages in staffing or leadership
• Delays in following up on problems

For airport security, where a few minutes can make a huge difference, these problems can lead to real dangers.

For Passengers: Why It Matters

Many people think security at big airports like O’Hare Airport 🇺🇸 is completely airtight, especially after years of tighter rules since 9/11. It’s scary to learn that a simple shift change could let someone get on a plane with a loaded gun.

People traveling with United Airlines on the affected flight had to leave the plane as a safety step, which meant delays and extra stress — even if nobody was hurt in the end. For thousands of other travelers who went through the airport that day, the event was a reminder that airport security is only as strong as the humans running it.

For TSA and Law Enforcement

For TSA officials, O’Hare Airport 🇺🇸 management, and local police, this was a very public warning. They are now under pressure to look again at every step of their routines, especially what happens at the moment workers swap out at checkpoints.

Officials have said the investigation is still going. They may check camera footage, talk to all staff involved, and study exactly who was responsible for duties in that moment.

Legal and Policy Details

Besnik Ismajlaj has a legal right to own and carry a gun in Illinois, with both a FOID and a concealed carry license. However, federal law says no one is allowed to carry a gun past airport security, no matter the reason or the state permit. The rule is there to keep flights and passengers safe, and breaking it means facing criminal charges, as seen in this case.

National Standards and TSA Guidelines

TSA (Transportation Security Administration) has strict rules about how to handle guns found at security. As soon as a firearm is discovered in a bag during X-ray scanning, the correct process is:

1. Do not move or touch the bag.
2. Call law enforcement (airport or local police) right away.
3. Hold the checkpoint until officers arrive.
4. Never allow the passenger to retrieve the bag until police clear it.

In this case, that system failed, and O’Hare Airport 🇺🇸 had to suspend operations in two terminals. This likely caused delays that affected thousands of travelers and cost airlines time and money.

Passengers and professionals can review the official TSA guidance on traveling with firearms, which explains what is and isn’t allowed at airports.

Broader Impact and Next Steps

This event has kicked off a bigger conversation about how to prevent similar mistakes in the future:

• Better Training: TSA agents might get extra lessons on what to do during shift changes, so there’s no confusion.
• Clearer Hand-Offs: Airports could require more formal briefings as each new worker comes on duty.
• Technology Upgrades: Some experts wonder if more automated alerts could trigger police notifications as soon as a gun is spotted, instead of relying on busy human staff.

The incident may also cause similar reviews at airports across the United States 🇺🇸. After all, O’Hare Airport 🇺🇸 is one of the busiest in the world. If such a big, busy airport can have a breach like this, it could possibly happen elsewhere too.

Quotes and Opinions

Officials and news outlets quoted TSA officers, who admitted they saw the image of the gun on the X-ray, but because of the shift change, they did not call the police right away. That’s a clear sign that handoffs are a weak spot in even the best security systems.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, the investigation at O’Hare Airport 🇺🇸 could set new rules for TSA work shifts and possibly lead to national policy updates in airport security. Experts say that even a five-minute gap in coverage can be enough to miss a threat.

Summary and Final Thoughts

The story of Besnik Ismajlaj and the loaded gun at O’Hare Airport 🇺🇸 is a strong reminder that security depends on both policies and people. Even the best systems can be undone by a simple mistake or a brief period of confusion.

For people traveling through airports, it’s good to know that quick action by law enforcement helped keep everyone safe in this case. For the TSA, the event spotlights a need to close any gaps during shift changes, set clearer procedures, and possibly improve technology so that neither guns nor other banned items slip through unnoticed.

United Airlines and its passengers were affected, but, most importantly, nobody was hurt, and a serious mistake was caught in time.

As authorities work to finish their investigation and update procedures, everyone from travelers to law enforcement will be watching closely to see what new changes might help keep airports safer in the future.

Learn Today

TSA (Transportation Security Administration) → A U.S. agency responsible for security at airports, overseeing baggage checks and passenger screenings to prevent dangerous items on flights.
Shift Change → When one group of employees replaces another at a work post, often requiring careful communication in sensitive environments like airport security.
FOID (Firearm Owner’s Identification Card) → An identification card issued by Illinois required for residents to legally possess or purchase firearms and ammunition.
Concealed Carry License → A government-issued permit allowing an individual to legally carry a hidden firearm in public under specified regulations.
Security Protocol → A set of official procedures or rules designed to keep people and property safe, especially in high-risk areas like airports.

This Article in a Nutshell

A loaded gun passed through O’Hare Airport security in April 2025 after a TSA shift change caused confusion. Besnik Ismajlaj retrieved his bag and boarded a United Airlines flight before being arrested. This incident exposed gaps in security protocols, prompting investigations and calls for better shift handoffs and stricter procedures.
— By VisaVerge.com

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