The man who owned the weapon the caused the 'accidental gun discharge' at Atlanta Airport on Saturday, sparking panic that injured three people and halting flights during Thanksgiving getaway weekend, has been identified as a convicted felon who remains on the loose.
Kenny Wells, 42, is facing charges of carrying a concealed weapon at a commercial airport, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, discharging a firearm and reckless conduct, police announced.
'We are actively pursuing this individual as we speak,' Maj. Reginald Moorman, the airport's police commissioner, told The Associated Press.
Panic erupted Saturday at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport - considered the busiest in the world - after reports of an 'active shooter,' which officials later said was an accidental discharge.
Early on Saturday evening, the TSA revealed exactly what happened while noting that three people who were caught up in the panic sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The TSA tweeted how at around 1:30pm, Wells's bag was being searched at the airport's main security checkpoint.
Police continue to search for Kenny Wells, 42, after he accidentally fired a gun and fled the Atlanta Airport Saturday
A 'prohibited item' was identified on the X-ray and TSA informed the passenger not to touch his property.
As the TSA officer opened up the compartment of his bag which contained the banned item, Wells lunged into the bag, grabbing the firearm, at which point it discharged.
Wells then made a run for it and fled the area, running out of the airport exit.
The TSA were at pains to point out that it was not an 'active shooter' incident.
The TSA together with the Atlanta Police Department then decided to implement a ground stop preventing flights from taking off or landing at the airport while Atlanta Police investigated.
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Atlanta Airport tweeted that it was an accidental discharge and would be providing more information.
Authorities obtained an arrest warrant for the convicted felon who shut down Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Wells faces charges of carrying a concealed weapon at a commercial airport, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, discharging a firearm and reckless conduct
Many passengers were swiftly evacuated after rumors spread of an active shooter
Terminals were seen empty as people scrambled to get to safety under the perceived threat of a shooting
Chaos appeared to ensue at the Atlanta Airport on Saturday
People were on the ground and seen scrambling for cover in a video posted to social media
At one point in the video, someone screams 'get down'
The image above shows scores of passengers who quickly evacuated the terminal after rumors spread of an active shooter
The image above shows passengers inside Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta on Friday
Chris Burcky, who was standing in Terminal A at the time the chaos erupted, posted a photo showing Terminal T get evacuated
Stephanie Withers posted a video on Twitter showing several people believed to be with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) running along a highway leading to one of the airport's terminals
Another witness posted a photo from the airport showing the drop-off section just outside one of the terminals. 'Shooting inside North Terminal Atlanta Airport l hope everyone gets the change to escape alive the same way l did... running...' she wrote on Twitter
Diane Callahan, a passenger on board a Delta Air Lines flight that was about to taxi out of the gate and depart for New York, posted a photo showing a large crowd of people underneath the nose of the airplane that was parked next to her aircraft
The Atlanta Airport also tweeted that it was an accidental discharge of a firearm that sparked panic among passengers and staff.
'There was an accidental discharge of a firearm near the main security checkpoint,' Atlanta police Sgt. Jarius Daugherty told CNN. 'Officers are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.'
When the all clear was given, the airport resumed normal operations and planes were allowed to take off.
Videos posted to social media showed ensuing panic.
'Get down,' someone is heard forcefully shouting as others are seen scrambling for cover on the ground, in a video posted by Jamari Jones.
Someone tweeted they had boarded a plane and then had to 'close the doors' due to an 'alleged active shooter in the terminal.'
'Delta is managing this as professional as always. We are hearing sirens but can't verify anything. Will keep you up tp [sic] date. Pray!' wrote Dianne Callahan.
Callahan, a passenger on board a Delta Air Lines flight that was about to taxi out of the gate and depart for New York, posted a photo showing a large crowd of people underneath the nose of the airplane that was parked next to her aircraft.
'The is what I am seeing outside my window. I am at the Atlanta Airport, boarded my flight to New York when we heard screams,' she wrote.
'@Delta is trying to calm people down. We heard screams as people were boarding.'
Chris Burcky, who was standing in Terminal A at the time the chaos erupted, posted a photo showing Terminal T get evacuated.
Another witness posted a photo from the airport showing the drop-off section just outside one of the terminals.
Pictured, an Atlanta Police Officer on patrol inside the Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Airport where a weapon was discharged
Pictured, large crowds inside of the Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Airport
Panic erupted Saturday at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport - considered the busiest in the world
Panic erupted at Atlanta Airport after reports of an 'active shooter,' which officials later said was an accidental discharge. Police said there were no injuries as of early on Saturday afternoon
A gun owner fled after his weapon fired by accident at Atlanta's airport. It sent terrified travelers scrambling onto the tarmac. After it was all over, there was huge lines at security
Police keep watch over passengers as they head into the security lines
'Shooting inside North Terminal Atlanta Airport l hope everyone gets the change to escape alive the same way l did... running...' she wrote on Twitter.
Stephanie Withers posted a video on Twitter showing several people believed to be with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) running along a highway leading to one of the airport's terminals.
'Atlanta airport employee Shantoria deserves a *major* raise for letting my husband and I jump in her car and driving us to safety amid total (what we thought was) active shooter chaos,' Withers wrote on Twitter.
'Hundreds of panicked people screaming and running. Thank you, Shantoria.'
A Twitter user named Johnny posted a photo showing scores of passengers waiting alongside their luggage near the tarmac as Delta aircraft are parked next to the terminal.
Erika Zeidler, who was traveling from Atlanta to Anchorage, told CNN she was sitting in Concourse T when she noticed panicked people began running down the hallway.
'We assumed they were late for a flight,' she said.
'Then all of a sudden more people started running down the terminal and were screaming there was a shooter.'
No one was injured but the incident halted flights during the busy Thanksgiving holiday period
Picturedm an emergency vehicle outside of Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Airport
Pictured, the security checkpoint inside the Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Airport where a weapon was discharged
About two hours after the 1:30 p.m. blast in the security screening area at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, officials gave an 'all-clear' and flights resumed
Immediate fear that an active shooter had opened fire gripped the crowd, which rushed out of the terminal and onto the tarmac. Afterwards, there were huge lines at security
Hartsfield-Jackson was the world's busiest airport in 2021, according to aviation analytics provider Official Airline Guide (OAG) may have felt even busier on Saturday after the shooting incident
The Atlanta airport was expected to be particularly busy during the Thanksgiving travel period, with prepandemic-size crowds expected at security checkpoints from Friday, November 19 through Sunday, November 28, the Transportation Security Administration said
The airport was on high alert after Saturday afternoon's shooting incident
Pictured, an emergency vehicle sits outside of Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Airport on Saturday
Pictured the security checkpoint inside the Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Airport where a weapon was discharged and a sign that reads 'No Weapons Beyond This Point'
Pictured, the security checkpoint inside the Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Airport where a weapon was discharged
'Officials have given an all-clear for #ATLAirport and normal operations are beginning,' the airport tweeted at 3:24 p.m.
An all-clear was given Saturday at Atlanta's airport after a gun accidentally discharged in the facility's security screening area, causing chaos, authorities said
A sign at the TSA checkpoint in Atlanta Airport warns passengers weapons and firearms are not permitted through security
The discharge happened around 1:30 p.m. at the security screening area, pictured
A police officer keeps an eye on passengers as they pass through the security checkpoint
The noise sent social media into a frenzy as visitors posted videos to Twitter of the resulting chaos. Long lines are seen after
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