Air India Express Passenger's Licensed Pistol Goes Off at Varanasi Airport, Two Injured
At least two people were injured on Friday after a licensed pistol belonging to a passenger accidentally discharged during security screening at the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The incident took place at around 9:30 am and prompted an immediate response from senior police officials, who reached the spot to oversee the investigation.
The passenger, identified as Kamlesh Rai, a resident of Azamgarh district in Uttar Pradesh, was travelling with his wife to Mumbai on Air India Express flight IX1810. According to the police, the firing occurred while security personnel were inspecting the weapon and its ammunition as part of the standard procedure for declared firearms.
A female security staff member was hit on the leg, while another person standing nearby suffered an injury on the thumb. Both were taken to New Laxmi Trauma Centre for treatment, the airport authorities confirmed.
Senior police officer Neetu Kadyan said on X that senior officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Gomti Zone) and the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Pindra), arrived at the scene. "The site is being inspected, and necessary details are being gathered. Appropriate legal action is being taken in the matter," she stated.
The airport issued a statement confirming the sequence of events. "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," it said.
Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 showed that flight IX1810 departed 14 minutes behind schedule. It was not immediately clear whether Kamlesh Rai and his wife were allowed to board the flight or whether the firearm was offloaded from the aircraft.
The incident has drawn attention to the rules governing the carriage of firearms on domestic flights. According to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) guidelines, a passenger can legally transport a firearm only if it is completely unloaded and packed in a locked, hard-sided container. The weapon must be declared at the airline check-in counter, and the passenger must possess a valid licence. Ammunition must be kept in a separate container and declared as well.
Under the regulations, a passenger is permitted to carry one licensed revolver, pistol, or shotgun along with up to fifty cartridges in registered baggage. For domestic flights, the applicable handling charge is approximately ₹5,000, excluding taxes, per firearm and fifty cartridges. For international flights, the charge is around $100.
Standard operating procedures require that declared firearms be verified for serial number and licence details, and that the weapon be unloaded before being placed in a designated container. The exact cause of the discharge has not been established.
Authorities have not determined whether the discharge resulted from negligence or a mechanical malfunction. The investigation will examine whether all safety protocols were followed by both the passenger and the security staff. Legal action against the passenger will depend on the findings of the inquiry. Further details are awaited.
