Air India Express passenger Kamlesh Rai accidentally discharged a licensed pistol during a Varanasi airport weapons check.
Two screening personnel sustained injuries and were shifted to New Lakshmi Trauma Center for treatment.
Police detained Rai, while BCAS is examining whether prescribed procedures for handling licensed weapons were followed.
A passenger travelling to Mumbai accidentally discharged a licensed firearm during a weapons check at Varanasi airport on Sunday, injuring two screening personnel, officials said.
The incident occurred at around 9:30 am on August 16, 2026, when Kamlesh Kedarnath Rai, a resident of Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, was travelling with his wife on Air India Express flight IX 1810.
According to a notification issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Rai had declared a licensed 7.62 mm pistol and 21 live cartridges at the check-in counter, as required under the prescribed procedure.
The passenger was then escorted to the designated screening area to complete the mandatory security formalities. During the handling and inspection of the weapon, a round was accidentally discharged. The projectile ricocheted and injured two screening personnel, Rohit Raj and Suman Kumari.
Both injured personnel were immediately provided assistance and shifted to New Lakshmi Trauma Center in Varanasi for medical treatment.
The Varanasi Airport Director had earlier said that the accidental shot injured two AAICLAS screeners, with a female screener sustaining an injury to her foot and a male screener being hit on his thumb.
Passenger Detained, Investigation Underway
The local police were informed immediately, and Rai was detained for investigation and further action in accordance with law, Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a notification.
In an official statement, the Varanasi Airport Director said, “Today, 16.08.2026, at about 0930 hrs, a passenger travelling with his wife on flight IX-1810 to Mumbai declared weapons on board the flight.”
“During the weapons check, the passenger fired a round, injuring two AAICLAS screeners. Both were taken to New Laxmi Trauma Centre for treatment. Local police have been informed, and an investigation is underway,” the director said.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is examining the circumstances that led to the incident, including whether prescribed procedures for the handling and carriage of licensed weapons at airports were followed.
Appropriate action will be taken based on the findings, the Ministry of Civil Aviation added.
The incident was promptly contained and airport operations continued without disruption, according to the notification.
