Friends don't let friends drive drunk and they shouldn't let them sneak semiautomatic weapons on airplanes either.
A plane getting ready to take off from Philly International to Phoenix Thursday was sent back to the terminal and evacuated after police stopped it on the tarmac, boarded and found a .9mm handgun in a passenger's carry-on.
The FBI charged US Airways worker, Roshid Milledge and his roommate, Damien Young with smuggling a concealed semiautomatic handgun onto a plane.
Young was moving to Phoenix and Milledge, a customer service agent for the airline, helped him bypass security and scanners by switching a look-alike bag and carrying Young's bag with the unloaded weapon through an employee entrance, according to court records. The two then met up at the gate to switch the bags back.
While the plane was still at the gate, US Airways manager confronted Young. He denied any wrongdoing and was allowed to return to his seat.
The plane, carrying 160 passengers, headed for the runway and was ordered to stop on the tarmac. Philadelphia police boarded, searched and found the gun. The gun was registered to Young, 29, and he had a permit to carry it, according to the FBI.
"These circumstances serve to underscore the importance of vigilance on the part of all Americans to help keep our society and our citizens safe," FBI Special Agent in Charge Janice K. Fedarcyk told Philly.com.
The 7:15 a.m. trip to Phoenix was canceled and passengers were all put on an 11 a.m. flight.
