Two hurt in weapon accident at Copenhagen airport

They suffered superficial wounds from the pellets which also damaged one wing of the aircraft belonging to the carrier SAS, airport authorities said Tuesday.

"The weapon was stored in a weapon's case, but there was apparently so much shock during transport that the weapon discharged and the bullets went through the case," said Claus Hoffman, an airport official, in comments cited by Danish broadcaster TV2.

The baggage handlers were hurt as they loaded the weapon's case on to a baggage trolley, with one being hit in the back of the thigh, and the other suffering severe ringing in the ears owing to the shotgun blast.

The rifle is said to be the property of a 76-year-old man who have started his journey in Orlando, the United States, and flown via Chicago and then Frankfurt, Germany, on his way to Copenhagen, capital of Denmark.

The man, who has not been named, claims the weapon was not loaded when it was checked-in at Chicago airport, Danish police said.

They add that the man hails from another Scandinavian country and is resident in the U.S. He had the weapon with him as he was going on a hunting trip.

As it is illegal to transport a loaded weapon by air, the man will be presented by Copenhagen police before a city court judge Tuesday.

The damaged aircraft has been taken temporarily out of service for a technical inspection, a spokesperson for SAS told TV2.