Washington Lawmaker Arrested in Hong Kong Airport for Having Pistol in Luggage: ‘Honest Mistake’

Jeff Wilson was reaching for a piece of gum mid-flight when he noticed the firearm in his carry-on case, his office said

A Washington State Senator was arrested at Hong Kong International Airport on Friday for having a pistol in his carry-on luggage, according to his office.

Upon discovering the pistol and reporting it to customs authorities, Jeff Wilson was charged with possession of an unregistered firearm, his website said in a press release. On Sunday, he posted bail and was released. His hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30.

“It was an honest mistake, and I expect the situation to be resolved shortly,” Wilson said in the release.

Wilson and his wife were on their way to a five-week trip in Southeast Asia at the time of the arrest. The lawmaker said “he did not realize his pistol was in his briefcase when he passed through airport security in Portland, and baggage screeners failed to note it,” per the release.

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“Wilson said he discovered the weapon mid-flight between San Francisco and Hong Kong, when he reached into his briefcase for a piece of gum, and felt his unloaded revolver inside,” his office said. “When the plane landed, he immediately went to customs officials and called their attention to the issue.”

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Wilson said it was not true that the weapon was found during a bag check, as some media reports claimed, per the release.

The trip is a vacation Wilson has paid for “at his own expense,” per the release. He also intends to visit Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia.

Wilson — a Longview port commissioner — “also planned to meet with counterparts at the port of Shanghai. He said he hopes to resume his itinerary when the matter is resolved,” per the release.

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“Wilson noted that while his pistol was not registered in Hong Kong, it is properly registered in Washington state and that he holds a concealed pistol license,” his office said.

Carrying a firearm in the financial hub without a license can result in a prison term of up to 14 years and a fine of up to $12,800 upon conviction, according to the Wall Street Journal.

John Braun, Washington state’s Senate Republican, said he was closely following the developments and hoped for a swift resolution of the situation, CBS News reported.

"We are learning about the incident with (Wilson) at the same time as the press and public here in America,” Braun wrote in a statement, per the outlet. “As I understand it, this was an honest mistake.”

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