---
title: "Gun discharge during weapons check at Varanasi airport injures two"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/gun-discharge-varanasi-airport-security-check-qixnh
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Society
published: 2026-08-16T07:02:25.244Z
modified: 2026-08-16T09:30:07.779Z
language: en-IN
---

# Gun discharge during weapons check at Varanasi airport injures two

An Air India Express passenger’s firearm discharged at Varanasi airport during a weapons check, injuring two AAICLAS screeners. Investigation is ongoing and police have been informed.

## Key takeaways

- A firearm discharged during a weapons check at Varanasi's Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.
- Two AAICLAS screeners were injured and hospitalized; police have launched an investigation.
- The passenger had declared weapons before boarding Air India Express flight IX-1810 to Mumbai.

## What Happened

The incident occurred at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi on Sunday, 16 August 2026, at about 9:30 am local time. A passenger traveling with his wife on Air India Express flight IX-1810 to Mumbai had declared a weapon and its magazine prior to boarding. During the weapons check, a round was fired from the pistol, injuring two AAICLAS screeners who were conducting the verification. The two injured individuals were taken to the New Laxmi Trauma Centre for treatment. Local police were informed, and authorities opened an investigation to determine how the discharge occurred during the security check.

The passenger involved was described as being from Azamgarh. Flight IX-1810 was the destination mentioned as Mumbai, and the incident involved the weapon and its documents being checked at the security screening point. The immediate medical condition of the injured was reported in some accounts as stable, though one source indicated that the condition of the injured was not immediately known at the time of reporting.

## Why It Matters

The firing during a routine security check raises questions about procedures and safeguards at the airport’s weapons verification process. Officials have stated that an investigation is underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the discharge and to review the security protocol employed during the weapons-check stage.

## Background

A passenger traveling with declared weapons on a flight to Mumbai was undergoing a weapons check when the firearm discharged. Reports identify the screeners affected as personnel associated with AAICLAS, the security and screening service operating at the airport. The incident prompted medical treatment for the injured and a police follow-up as investigators examine what led to the round being fired during the security check.

## Key Facts

- Date and time: 16 August 2026, around 9:30 am local time
- Location: Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi
- Aircraft and route: Air India Express flight IX-1810 to Mumbai
- Passenger: from Azamgarh, traveling with wife
- Weapon: firearm with a magazine; declared on board
- Injuries: two AAICLAS screeners (woman hit in the thigh, man injured in the hand)
- Medical response: injured taken to New Laxmi Trauma Centre; some reports note their condition as stable or not immediately known
- Investigation: local police informed; official inquiry ongoing

## What Happens Next

Authorities are conducting an investigation to determine how the firearm discharged during the weapons-check procedure and to review safety protocols related to declaring and checking weapons at the airport. Further details about the passenger, firearm specifics, and any resulting actions are expected to be released by airport officials and police as the inquiry progresses.

---
Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/gun-discharge-varanasi-airport-security-check-qixnh
Reported from: Multiple Sources