Varanasi Airport Staff Recalls Flier Saying Gun Was Not Loaded Before Discharge

Two airport security personnel were injured after a passenger's licensed pistol went off during a routine screening at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi. The passenger, identified as Kamlesh Kedarnath Rai from Azamgarh, was travelling with his wife to Mumbai on Air India Express flight IX1810 when the incident occurred. Suman Kumari, one of the injured screening personnel, recalled that the weapon was being examined as part of mandatory procedures for passengers travelling with declared firearms.

She said security staff were required to verify the weapon's documents, inspect the ammunition and establish whether the firearm was loaded or unloaded before allowing it to be carried. According to Kumari, Rai allegedly told the screening staff that the pistol was unloaded before pulling its trigger to demonstrate that it was safe. “See, it is in an unloaded condition,” she recalled him saying. The weapon then discharged unexpectedly, causing injuries to two personnel involved in the screening process.

Kumari said she was injured in both legs after the round was fired. She also stressed that she could not have known whether the passenger's weapon was loaded at the time. “Whether he knew it or not, only the passenger knows. But I didn't know if it was loaded or unloaded. To show that it was unloaded, he pulled the trigger,” she told news agency PTI. The firearm involved was reportedly a 7.62 mm pistol and had 21 live cartridges at the time of the incident.

Also Read: Varanasi Airport Gun Mishap Leaves Two Security Personnel Injured During Screening

The accidental discharge occurred while the weapon was undergoing inspection, raising questions about the handling of licensed firearms during airport security procedures. The two injured personnel were taken to hospital for treatment following the incident. Their injuries were caused by the projectile after the weapon discharged during the screening process. Airport and local authorities were informed following the incident, and the passenger was detained for further inquiry. The incident has also prompted scrutiny of the procedures followed for passengers carrying licensed weapons at airports.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is examining the circumstances, including whether prescribed protocols governing the declaration, inspection, handling and carriage of firearms were followed. Passengers carrying licensed firearms are required to comply with specific security procedures before boarding a flight. These include documentation and checks relating to the weapon and ammunition. The Varanasi incident has highlighted the importance of ensuring that firearms are handled only in accordance with established safety protocols during such checks.

The incident occurred as Rai was preparing to travel to Mumbai with his wife. The flight details and circumstances surrounding the weapon's inspection are now part of the inquiry into the discharge. The investigation will establish how the firearm came to be discharged and whether any security procedures were breached. Authorities are also expected to examine the passenger's actions and the weapon's condition at the time of the screening. For the injured airport personnel, the incident has underscored the risks security staff can face while carrying out routine checks involving declared firearms.

Also Read: Varanasi Airport Gun Mishap Leaves Two Security Personnel Injured During Screening