Police Find Gun in Bethlehem, Pa. Woman's Carry-On Bag

The woman who tried to take a gun onto a plane at Lehigh Valley International Airport on Friday afternoon has been identified by airport officials as Linda K. Krisko.

Krisko, who lives at 905 W. Market St., Bethlehem, operates her own insurance agency in Allentown. Airport officials said they detained her after a gun was found by security in one of her carry-on bags. She was going through security before boarding a US Airways flight to Charlotte, N.C.

Krisko has lived for the last five years on W. Market Street with her husband, Brian Ziegler, a self-employed contractor, according to neighbors. Attempts to contact Krisko or Ziegler at home and by phone Sunday were not successful. No one answered a phone call to Krisko's agency.

The couple's neighbor was surprised by her arrest.

"They're no terrorists," said Bob Stevens of 826 W. Market St, who said he's known Ziegler all his life.

Stevens described Ziegler as a flying enthusiast with a pilot's license, and Krisko as a well-off professional woman.

"[Krisko] is definitely a good seed and so is he," said Stevens. "I'm sure if there was a gun in her purse it was accidental. I could see her grabbing the wrong purse or something."

According to Krisko's insurance agency Web site, she is a graduate of Lehigh County Community College and completed her bachelor of science degree at Muhlenberg College. She's listed as a member of Central Moravian Church, associate member of Cedar Lutheran Church and the Allentown Chamber of Commerce.

Federal regulations required airport police to detain Krisko and contact the FBI. The FBI questioned the woman and took her into custody.

The FBI also asked the plane to return to the gate so it could question the woman's two companions, who were not taken into custody. The flight was delayed about a half-hour.

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