VARANASI, August 16: Two airport screening personnel were injured after a passenger’s licensed pistol accidentally discharged during mandatory security checks at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport here on Sunday morning, officials said.
The passenger, identified as Kamlesh Kedarnath Rai of Azamgarh district, had declared a licensed 7.62 mm pistol along with 21 live cartridges at the check-in counter before boarding an Air India Express flight to Mumbai.
The incident occurred at around 9.30 am when the weapon was being inspected at the designated screening area. One of the injured personnel, a woman, sustained an injury to her leg, while another person was hit on the thumb after the bullet reportedly ricocheted.
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Both injured personnel, identified as Rohit Raj and Suman Kumari, were shifted to New Lakshmi Trauma Center in Varanasi for treatment.
Airport director Puneet Gupta said the passenger was travelling with his wife on Air India Express flight IX-1810 when he declared the weapon for carriage.
“During the inspection of the weapon, a round was accidentally fired, injuring two AAICLAS screeners. Both were taken to New Laxmi Trauma Centre. Local police have been informed, and an investigation is under way,” Gupta said.
The Civil Aviation Ministry said the passenger had followed the prescribed procedure by declaring the firearm at the check-in counter and was subsequently escorted to the designated area for mandatory security formalities.
“During the handling and inspection of the weapon, a round was accidentally discharged. The projectile ricocheted and caused injuries to two screening personnel Rohit Raj and Suman Kumari,” the ministry said.
The passenger has been detained for investigation, while the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is examining the circumstances surrounding the discharge, including whether prescribed procedures for the handling and carriage of licensed firearms were followed.
“Appropriate action will be taken based on the findings,” the ministry said.
Senior police officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Gomti Zone) and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Pindra), reached the airport after being informed about the incident.
Police said the site was being inspected and details were being collected as part of the investigation.
Despite the incident, authorities said airport operations continued without disruption.
