Two staff members attached to the Varanasi Airport were injured after a licensed pistol carried by an Air India Express passenger accidentally went off during a security check at the city’s Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport on Sunday, the police reported. 

The passenger bound to take the flight, whose firearm went off accidentally, has been identified as Kamlesh Rai, a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh district. He had arrived at the airport on Sunday along with his wife to board Air India Express flight IX1810 to Mumbai, as per a statement issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Gomti Zone. 

Scenes of chaos and panic ensued after the weapon discharged while it was being inspected during the security screening process. 

Bullet fired during weapons check

Director of the Varanasi Airport confirmed that Rai had declared the weapon before travelling. He was carrying a licensed firearm, which went off during the mandatory weapons check, injuring two cargo logistics screeners employed by AAICLAS. 

The statement issued by the director further read that a female staff member sustained a bullet wound on her leg, while a male employee standing close to her suffered an injury to his thumb. Both of them were swiftly transported to the New Laxmi Trauma Centre for treatment. 

The incident prompted an immediate security response at the airport, and the local police were informed soon after this. 

Police sources said that as per preliminary information, the discharge was accidental and occurred while the firearm and its ammunition were being inspected. Moreover, there did not seem to be any indication that the passenger had deliberately fired the weapon. 

Senior police officers reach airport

Upon receipt of the information, senior police officials rushed to the airport, including DCP (Gomti Zone), the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Pindra) and other police personnel. 

The authorities inspected the site and began furnishing details to ascertain how the firearm was discharged during the screening process. 

Police said the weapon and other circumstances are being examined as part of the probe, adding that necessary legal action shall be taken on the basis of the findings. More details are awaited in the case as the probe deepens into the incident.