An Iranian national carrying a loaded gun was arrested at the Miami International Airport as he tried to board a connecting flight to Washington, D.C., officials said on Tuesday, according to AP.
37-year-old Iradj Eftekharipour told police officials that the gun was plastic, but it was actually a black metal revolver loaded with six bullets, said Miami-Dade police Detective Juan DelCastillo.
Eftekharipour later said he was carrying the gun for his own protection, DelCastillo stated.
Eftekharipour had arrived on an American Airlines (AA) flight from the Caribbean nation of St. Maarten and was transferring to a flight to Washington D.C., when he was stopped by security, airline spokesman John Hotard said. A screener noticed the outline of a handgun in a fanny pack as it passed through an X-ray machine.
Eftekharipour was turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), which is investigating the incident, DelCastillo said. FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela said she had no information on the arrest.
WSVN-TV reported that Iradj Eftekharipour operates a concrete company in St. Maarten. (Albawaba.com)
