MIAMI -- An American Eagle operations employee was arrested Wednesday at Miami International Airport after he brought a gun into a secure area, police said.

According to Miami-Dade police, Andry Billu arrived for work shortly before 6 a.m. when he was stopped at an employee-screening checkpoint.

Billu was carrying a 9 mm handgun in a sterile area where no firearms are allowed, Miami-Dade police Detective Robert Williams said.

Although Billu claimed he accidentally left the gun in his bag, police said he didn't have a concealed weapons permit.

Police credited the county's employee screening equipment for finding the gun.

"Since 1998, we started screening 100 percent of our employees -- all of our employees -- 24 hours a day," airport spokesman Greg Chin said.

MIA is one of only two airports, along with Orlando, that screens all of its employees.

Billu faces up to five years in prison if convicted. He could face federal charges as well.