Chaos ensued at Atlanta Airport after a passenger’s gun accidentally discharged.
It caused panic among passengers and TSA staff in a security screening area.
It led to a mass evacuation and a temporary groundstop on all departing aircraft over initial fears of an active shooter.
The loaded gun was spotted during screening.
"During a secondary search, the passenger lunged into his property, grabbing a firearm that was located inside, which ultimately discharged," said Robert Spinden, the TSA’s federal security director for Georgia.
"The passenger then fled the security checkpoint through an adjacent exit lane with his firearm."
"We’re fortunate that when the firearm went off, nobody was seriously injured."
Airports spokesperson Andrew Gobeil said the firing was accidental leading to a ‘sense of chaos.’
The gun owner, named as Kenny Wells, is facing various charges.
