Augusta, GA – A stolen gun briefly ended up on the streets after it was taken from the baggage area at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, sparking a police investigation and raising concerns about security procedures at the airport.

The incident began in November when a man, identified as Robert Smith, discovered that his checked bag, which contained his firearm, had gone missing. According to an Atlanta Police report, security footage showed 45-year-old Tracy Njie wheeling two bags out of the North Terminal. One of the bags did not belong to her.

Smith, who had been tracking his luggage with an AirTag, noticed that his bag had ended up 10-15 miles away at a personal residence. Inside the bag was his firearm. Smith soon discovered that his bag had arrived at the airport on a United Airlines flight earlier that day.

After reporting the theft to Atlanta Police, Smith drove to the residence where his bag was located and contacted another law enforcement agency in that jurisdiction for assistance. Police in Clayton County, initially hesitant to arrest Njie, eventually took her into custody after further involvement from Atlanta Police.

Njie claimed the theft was an innocent mistake, stating that the bag “looked like hers,” despite the fact that all of Smith’s locks had been removed. While the woman was apprehended, Smith expressed concerns about why a bag containing a firearm had been allowed to be placed on the baggage carousel in the first place.

United Airlines confirmed to FOX 5 that checked bags, including those containing firearms, are routinely delivered to the carousel. However, the airline clarified that firearms must be unloaded and placed in a hard-sided, locked container in a checked bag. Bags containing rifles or similar items are handled differently, being delivered to the Baggage Service Office for pickup by the customer.

In a follow-up request for clarification, a United spokesperson reiterated that no mistake had been made in Smith’s case. While Smith acknowledged that he had received his firearm back, he remained concerned about the lack of stricter regulations regarding the handling of bags containing weapons.

Smith also reported that his bag, which contained roughly $1,500 worth of hiking gear and clothing, was missing. Although United encouraged him to submit a claim for compensation, Smith claims he had already done so but was told to provide receipts and photos of the missing items – something he was unable to do, as many of the items were gifts.

As of now, Smith is still waiting for resolution from United Airlines regarding his missing belongings. The airline’s response to the situation has left him dissatisfied, with Smith stating that more stringent measures should be in place to ensure the safe handling of checked baggage, particularly when it contains firearms.