Five workers on the HS2 high-speed rail project were dismissed following an investigation into the use of a powerful air rifle inside a workshop at the West Ruislip construction site in London. The incident came to light after Aminadab Enos de Souza Dias, a 42-year-old fitter’s mate from Brazil, recorded footage of colleagues firing the weapon during night shifts, leading to a police inquiry and a government response.

Mr. Dias submitted the video evidence along with a report detailing additional safety concerns, including instances of workers sleeping on the job and allegations of verbal abuse, xenophobic remarks, and intimidation directed at him. He reported that the air rifle, identified as a .22 calibre Stoeger X20 S2, was kept on site for over two months in early 2025 and was frequently used within the workshop. The whistleblower first raised the issue with HS2 and its contractor SCS in May 2025, but, frustrated by the lack of action, escalated his complaint to Downing Street in October. The complaint was subsequently forwarded to Lord Hendy, the Rail Minister, who expressed shock and personally addressed the matter with HS2 Managing Director Mark Wild.

In a response letter to Mr. Dias, Lord Hendy confirmed that one worker—identified as mechanic Keith Mewes—was dismissed, and four others involved in the incident were permanently removed from HS2 projects. Mr. Mewes acknowledged bringing the air rifle to work to perform repairs during breaks but admitted that doing so was inappropriate and expressed regret over his actions. British Transport Police launched an investigation but closed the case after determining the air rifle was no longer on site.

HS2 described the incident as "unacceptable and isolated," noting that the event occurred approximately 18 months ago. The company stated that steps were taken to remove the individuals involved and to strengthen health and safety protocols to prevent similar occurrences. Leadership changes within the contractor SCS have been implemented, along with increased searches for prohibited items on-site.

Separately, HS2 confirmed an explosion took place at the West Ruislip site seven months earlier in 2024. According to CCTV footage reviewed by media, workers wearing safety jackets were caught in a blast while attempting to repair a leaking cement pipe. Four of the workers were hospitalized, but HS2 reported that there were no major injuries. The incident was reportedly caused by a failure of a compressed air line. Following the explosion, the organization undertook several corrective actions to improve safety conditions at the site.

These events have drawn renewed attention to HS2, a high-profile infrastructure project with a budget that has escalated from an initial £37.5 billion in 2009 to estimates exceeding £100 billion. The project has also faced criticism due to delays, with planned services into central London now not expected before 2040 at the earliest.