ATL Standard

Travelers ran for cover late last month after a passenger’s unintentionally discharged at the Atlanta airport.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport wrote on Twitter that the Nov. 20 incident was isolated and soon resumed operations.

“Officials have given an all-clear for #ATLAirport and normal operations are beginning. Information for passengers and employees will be provided on ATL’s social media feeds and in the airport’s public address system,’’ the Atlanta Airport said.

The person whose gun went off has been identified as 42-year-old Kenny Wells, according to CNN.

According to a police press release, an Atlanta police officer near the chief domestic checkpoint at the airport heard what he thought was an explosion. After he requested backup officers, the Atlanta Police Department’s Airport Special Response Team responded to the scene where the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had initiated a secondary search.

“During the search, the owner of the bag, later identified as 42-year-old Kenny Wells, lunged into the bag and grabbed an item, determined to be a firearm, causing it to discharge. Mr. Wells then fled on foot, with the firearm. At the same time, multiple travelers in the airport self-evacuated upon hearing the gunshot or upon seeing others running from the area,” the press release said.

CNN reported that three individuals were dealing with non-life-threatening injuries because of the chaos and not the discharge of the gun.

“The number of people self-evacuating the airport created a challenge to officers as they attempted to locate Mr. Wells, who was also running from the airport. It was quickly evident that we were not dealing with an active shooter situation, as there was no additional gunfire. However, we understand the panic felt by those near the scene and by others throughout the airport who knew something concerning was happening, but had no idea what,” the news release said.

The gun was found Nov. 23 in a trashcan on airport property as law enforcement officials continue to search for Wells, who turned himself in to Clayton County Jail on Nov. 30, according to the press release.  

Wells faces charges of carrying a weapon or long gun at a commercial service airport, reckless conduct, discharging of firearms on property of another and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, police said. 

According to the TSA, its officers have found over 450 firearms at airport checkpoints this year.