Airport Descends Into Chaos After Gun Discharged At Security

An airport in the US descended into chaos after a gun accidentally went off yesterday (20 November). Watch below:

Travellers ran for their lives and ducked for cover when a passenger's firearm went off following a security check at Hatfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport.

According to reports, the terrifying incident happened at around 1.30pm (ET) when the X-ray scanners detected a 'prohibited item' in a passenger's luggage.

When security went to check the baggage again, the passenger, who has since been named as Kenny Wells, grabbed the gun, which caused it to go off and mass panic ensue.

Twitter

The 42-year-old Wells then made off with the gun in hand.

Speaking about the incident, Robert Spinden, the Transportation Security Administration's federal security director for Georgia, said Wells' property was flagged for a secondary search.

He explained: "During that secondary search, the passenger lunged into his property, grabbing a firearm that was located inside, which ultimately discharged.

"The passenger then fled the security checkpoint through an adjacent exit lane with his firearm."

He added: "We're fortunate that when the firearm went off, nobody was seriously injured."

Footage of the aftermath was shared on social media and showed people ducking for cover and rails strewn across the concourse.

Alamy

Erika Zeidler, who was traveling from Atlanta to Anchorage, Alaska, at the time of the shot being fired, told CNN that people thought there was an active shooter.

She said: "We thought they were late for a flight, and then more and more people started running.

"There was some screaming and then somebody stopped and said, 'There's a shooter, you need to go'."

And though no one was injured as a result of the discharge, three people were during the panic.

Officials have said, though, that the injuries were not life-threatening.

Atlanta Police

Atlanta Police Department Airport Precinct Commander Reginald L. Moorman said police were on the hunt for Wells.

He said: "We have taken out warrants for carrying concealed a weapon at a commercial airport, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, discharging a firearm and reckless conduct.

"We are actively pursuing this individual."

While an investigation is ongoing, the authorities have assured people that it is now perfectly safe to travel through the airport.

Topics: Police, Airport, crime, No-Article-Matching

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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