Air India Express flyer’s gun fires at Varanasi airport, two hurt

A licensed pistol carried by an Air India Express passenger accidentally discharged at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi on Friday, injuring two security screeners. The passenger, identified as Kamlesh Kedarnath Rai from Azamgarh, was travelling to Mumbai on flight IX1810 and had declared the firearm along with 21 live cartridges at the check-in counter. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is investigating whether prescribed procedures for handling licensed weapons at airports were followed, the government said.

According to the injured screeners, Rai claimed the weapon was unloaded before pressing the trigger to show them. Rohit Raj, one of the injured, said the passenger might have acted in anger or frustration. The bullet struck Raj's finger and hit Suman Kumari in both legs. Both are undergoing treatment at New Laxmi Trauma Centre and are reported out of danger. Rai has been detained and an FIR registered. Airport operations continued without disruption.