Source NDTV
VARANASI — Two airport security screeners were injured on Sunday morning after a licensed pistol belonging to an Air India Express passenger accidentally discharged during a weapons verification check at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. while the passenger, identified as Kamlesh Kedarnath Rai of Azamgarh, was declaring his firearm before boarding Air India Express flight IX-1810 to Mumbai. Rai, who was traveling with his wife, was present with airport staff for the standard verification of the weapon and its documentation when the gun went off.
According to Varanasi Airport Director Puneet Gupta, the bullet first struck the ground before ricocheting and hitting two nearby screeners from the Airports Authority of India Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Limited (AAICLAS).
Casualties and Response
The two staffers sustained non-life-threatening injuries from the ricochet:
A female security screener suffered a gunshot wound to her thigh.
A male staff member sustained an injury to his hand.
Both injured personnel were immediately transported to the New Laxmi Trauma Centre for medical attention, where authorities confirmed they are in stable condition.
Senior police officials arrived promptly at the airport to inspect the scene. Local authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the accidental discharge, and appropriate legal action is underway.
Regulations on Firearms in Air Travel
The incident sheds light on the strict protocols surrounding the transport of firearms on commercial flights. In India, passengers are permitted to transport licensed weapons, but they are strictly bound by aviation regulations:
No Cabin Access: Firearms and ammunition are strictly prohibited in cabin baggage and must be processed as restricted checked baggage.
Mandatory Declaration: Passengers must possess valid licenses and declare their weapons and ammunition prior to the security check of their registered baggage.
Verification: The weapon must undergo a thorough physical verification by airport security and airline staff before it is cleared for loading into the aircraft’s hold.
The ongoing investigation will assess whether standard operating procedures were properly followed during the handling and inspection of the weapon at the verification counter.
