Topics: American Airlines, Travel, Florida
An American Airlines plane flying from Miami, Florida to Medellín Colombia appears to have been struck by a bullet, while making its scheduled journey on Sunday February 22.
The hole was located in the right wing of a 737 MAX 8 aircraft after it flew as flight number 923 on Sunday evening, with CBS revealing that ground crew reported a puncture ‘that extends all the way through the right-hand aileron,’ when they inspected the aircraft upon landing.
It's unclear when or where the damage occurred, but sources do indicate that the hole is consistent with a bullet strike, however this has yet to be confirmed.
Airline blogger JonNYC on X first raised suspicions about a potential bullet strike on Monday, after noting that there is an entry point that left a small round hole in one side of the aileron as well as damage at the likely exit point on the other side.
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Aileron are absolutely critical for the safe operation and maneuverability of nearly all fixed-wing aircraft.
Located on the trailing edge of each wing, they control the aircraft’s roll allowing for precise turns, while also allowing pilots to maintain lateral balance and control, especially during takeoff, landing, and when encountering turbulence.
Although the news of a potential ‘bullet hole’ could strike fear into the hearts of any traveller, American Airlines are happy to report that no injuries were reported and the flight was able to make it’s journey safely.
In a statement, the airline confirmed that it had ‘identified a puncture’ to the plane’s exterior during a routine inspection when it returned to Miami.
“The aircraft was immediately removed from service for further inspection and repair. We will work closely with all relevant authorities to investigate this incident,” they added.
An investigation into the incident is now underway, with preliminary findings on the ground in Colombia indicating it was likely struck while landing in Medellín on Sunday.
No further details have yet been made public about who may have shot at the plane, but authorities have indicated that they are looking into the possibility that a criminal group is behind this incident, although no conclusive answer has yet been made public.
Following the discovery of the hole, temporary repairs were made to the aileron and the plane operated as scheduled to Miami on Monday morning, according to flight tracking data from Flightradar24. The aircraft then remained in Florida for roughly around 12 hours before flying to Dallas, where it has remained grounded ever since.
