20 January 2024 , 18:11
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A United Airline pilot has been arrested at Edinburgh Airport for allegedly carrying a firearm in his luggage.
Following a security search at around 9am today, a 56-year-old man was arrested and charged, with an eyewitness saying he was taken away from security by "armed police".
It's believed a Taser device was found and the 9.25am flight from Edinburgh to Newark, New Jersey, was cancelled as a result. United Airlines confirmed a member of their staff was removed from service immediately.
A spokesperson for the airline said: "This employee was immediately removed from service and we are fully cooperating with local authorities." And spokesperson for Edinburgh Airport said: "We are aware an arrest on Saturday was made in connection with a firearms offence," reported Edinburgh Live.
It is illegal to possess, purchase, acquire, manufacture, sell, or transfer without lawful authority a Taser which is capable of discharging an electrical current.
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Taser is the brand name of a Conductive Energy Device (CED). They initially generate around 50,000 volts of electricity, mainly to allow the wires to pass through the air and through clothing. Once it makes contact with somebody, it drops to 1,500 volts delivered in extremely short pulses, explains Police Scotland. It can stop the person moving, allowing police officers to remove the threat the person is posing to themselves or others.
A police spokesperson said that the man would be appearing in Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday. They stated:: "Following a security search at Edinburgh Airport on Saturday, 20 January, a 56-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with a firearms offence. He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, January 22 2024. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal."