Two airport screeners injured after licensed pistol fires during security check
VARANASI: Two security screeners deployed by AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Ltd (AAICLAS) were injured on Sunday morning when a licensed pistol carried by a passenger accidentally discharged during mandatory checks at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, officials said.
Airport director Puneet Gupta said both injured employees were taken by ambulance to New Lakshmi Hospital in Harhua and were in stable condition. The passenger, identified in official statements as a 55-year-old man from Azamgarh district, was travelling to Mumbai and had declared the weapon at check-in as required, the airport said.
- Time of incident: approximately 09:30 am on Sunday, August 16.
- Passengers involved: a 55-year-old man and his wife, travelling on Air India Express flight IX-1810 to Mumbai.
- Injured: Suman Kumari (injuries to both legs) and Rohit Raj (injury to left toe/thumb, reported variably).
According to a statement issued by the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Gomti Zone, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and airline staff were examining the pistol and counting its cartridges when the round was accidentally fired. Preliminary checks indicated that although the magazine had been removed, a live round remained in the chamber and discharged when the trigger was pressed during inspection.
"On August 16, Sunday, at approximately 09:30 am, a passenger and his wife reached the airport to travel to Mumbai on flight IX-1810. He declared that he would carry his licensed weapon on the aircraft," Puneet Gupta said.
The discharged projectile reportedly ricocheted, striking the two AAICLAS screeners who were near the screening area. Both were transported to the trauma centre at New Lakshmi Hospital; officials described their condition as stable. The passenger has been detained and will face investigation, the civil aviation ministry said.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has opened a probe into the circumstances of the accidental discharge, the ministry added. The inquiry will examine adherence to the prescribed procedures for handling and carriage of licensed firearms at airports and whether standard safety protocols were followed by all personnel present during the inspection.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Airport | Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi |
| Flight | Air India Express IX-1810 (to Mumbai) |
| Weapon | Licensed pistol (reported as 7.62 mm in some statements) with live cartridges |
| Injured | Suman Kumari; Rohit Raj (both AAICLAS screeners) |
Airport operations were not disrupted, officials said. The civil aviation ministry noted the incident was promptly contained and that appropriate action will be taken after the BCAS probe concludes. Local police are supporting the investigation into whether protocols for carriage and handling of declared firearms were fully observed.
For Varanasi residents and regular travellers, the episode highlights procedural risks when firearms are transported by air even under declared carriage rules. Licensed weapon carriage is permitted under law when passengers follow notification and packing procedures, but the incident underlines the need for strict adherence to safety checks and for clear allocation of responsibilities between airline staff, security agencies and contracted screeners.
Authorities have stressed that the investigation will determine if procedural lapses contributed to the discharge and whether further measures — including retraining of personnel or changes in screening practice for declared weapons — are required to prevent recurrence.
