Frontier and United airlines planes lined up at Denver International Airport.
Frontier and United airlines planes lined up at Denver International Airport.

Federal authorities are investigating after airline officials said a police officer left a loaded handgun magazine on a Frontier Airlines flight over the weekend.

A passenger found the clip Nov. 9 near her seat after boarding Flight 4771 from Atlanta to Cincinnati, according to a statement released by Frontier's Corporate Communications Manager Rob Harris.

"Customers were asked to deplane while a security sweep of the aircraft was conducted, along with additional passenger screening prior to the flight’s departure," according to the statement.

Officers with the Atlanta Police Department responded to the call later that day.

Loaded magazine found on plane marked with initials 'H K'

Atlanta police said the Hartsfield Jackson International Airport responded to Gate C-6 in Concourse C.

The passenger on the Airbus A320 found a loaded magazine containing "ten hollow point rounds" near seat 7A, police said. The clip had the initials "K H," according to police.

'No active threats were confirmed'

Officers reportedly coordinated with agencies including the Transportation Security Administration and the Department Homeland Security.

"The aircraft was deplaned and thoroughly searched by officers," the police department said, and "no additional items of concern were found. No active threats were confirmed at that time."

The TSA re-screened all passengers, the flight departed at 7:56 p.m., and the FBI was notified.

'The ammunition belonged to a law enforcement officer.'

Frontier wrote in its release that the ammunition belonged to a law enforcement officer who was "on an earlier flight on the same aircraft."

Frontier did not name the officer's employer.

When reached by USA TODAY on Thursday, Nov. 13, the FBI deferred questions to Atlanta police.

USA TODAY has reached out to Atlanta police, the Atlanta airport, the TSA and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Loaded handgun magazine left behind on Frontier flight belonged to cop, airline says

Reporting by Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect