Overview
- A licensed 7.62 mm pistol carried by passenger Kamlesh Kedarnath Rai discharged during a mandatory weapons inspection at Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, injuring two AAICLAS screeners on Sunday, Aug. 16.
- The projectile first struck a hard surface and then ricocheted, striking screeners Rohit Raj and Suman Kumari, who were taken to New Laxmi Trauma Centre and reported to be stable while receiving treatment.
- Officials say Rai had declared the weapon and its ammunition at check-in and was escorted to a designated screening area when the round fired; screeners say the magazine had been removed but a round remained in the chamber and the trigger was later pressed.
- Local police registered a case, detained Rai for questioning, and later booked him under bailable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita; police released him on bail on Monday as BCAS continues its inquiry.
- Under current Indian aviation rules passengers may carry licensed firearms only after declaring them and undergoing separate inspections, and investigators say their findings could lead to tighter handling rules, clearer checks for a chambered round, and extra training for ground staff.