Air India Express passenger's gun goes off at Varanasi airport, two injured

On August 16, 2026, a passenger's gun accidentally discharged at Varanasi airport, injuring two AAICLAS screeners. The incident occurred at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi when the passenger, a resident of Azamgarh, and his wife were preparing to board the Mumbai-bound Air India Express flight IX-1810. During the screening process, the pistol discharged a single round, causing injuries to the two screeners.

One screener was injured in his hand, while the other was hurt above her knee. Airport director Puneet Gupta reported that the incident took place around 9:30 am as the passenger declared a weapon intended to be carried on the aircraft. He added that both screeners were taken to New Laxmi Trauma Centre for treatment and are in stable condition.

Local police have been informed, and an investigation into the matter is underway. The passenger had been screened separately due to the declared weapon. AAICLAS screeners are responsible for maintaining security by inspecting luggage and detecting unapproved items using advanced scanning technologies, alerting authorities to ensure compliance with civil aviation security guidelines.