Photo taken on July 20, 2018 shows the passenger plane for the first Atlanta-Shanghai flight at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, the United States. U.S. airline giant Delta Air Line relaunched a non-stop flight route Friday between Atlanta, state of Georgia, and China's Shanghai. Photo:Xinhua

A gun that accidentally discharged after being discovered at an X-Ray checkpoint in Atlanta's busy international airport sent dozens of passengers scurrying for cover and briefly resulted in the facility's closure Saturday just days before the Thanksgiving holiday.

The episode, which highlights the highly politicized topic of gun prevalence in American society, resulted in three non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). 

It said the incident occurred after a "prohibited item" was identified inside a passenger's baggage by an X-Ray machine at a checkpoint.

As a Transportation Security Officer opened the compartment containing the gun, "the passenger lunged into the bag and grabbed a firearm, at which point it discharged."

"The passenger then fled the area, running out of the airport exit," the TSA said, adding that the officer had told the passenger not to touch the property.  

TSA did not provide details on how the injuries were sustained.

A spokesman for the airport said that authorities know who the individual is and that information is still forthcoming.

Shortly after the incident the airport emphasized on Twitter that there was "not an active shooter," adding that "there was an accidental discharge at the Airport. There is no danger to passengers or employees. An investigation is ongoing."

The loud noise sent many people ducking and running, knocking over suitcases and stanchions as they scrambled to escape, film aired by CNN showed. 

AFP