American Airlines Flight from Colombia Reports Possible Bullet Holes on Jet

An American Airlines jet was discovered with potential bullet holes on its exterior after completing a flight from Medellin, Colombia, to Miami on Monday.

The damage was identified during a routine post-flight inspection of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 at Miami International Airport. According to Airlive.net, the puncture marks, which appeared to resemble bullet holes, were located on the plane’s right wing assembly.

American Airlines confirmed to FOX Business that the aircraft was indeed impacted and is currently undergoing a thorough inspection.

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An American Airlines plane taxis to a gate on Jan. 11, 2023. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“Following a routine inspection, our teams identified a puncture to the exterior of one of our aircraft in Medellín, Colombia,” the airline stated. “The aircraft was immediately removed from service for further inspection and repair. We will work closely with all relevant authorities to investigate this incident.”

‘SECURITY-RELATED SITUATION’ GROUNDS FLIGHT TO VACATION HOT SPOT, PASSENGERS CONFINED FOR HOURS

Aerial view of the Moravia hill and neighborhood in Medellin, Colombia, on June 18, 2021. (JOAQUIN SARMIENTO/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The aircraft, registered as N342SX, initially departed Miami on Sunday as Flight AA923 for Medellín’s José María Córdova International Airport, where it remained overnight. The following morning, it completed its return leg as Flight AA924, landing in Miami at approximately 10:33 a.m.

The flight proceeded without any issues during its three-hour journey over the Caribbean, and no injuries were reported, according to the airline.

During the inspection, maintenance crews identified puncture marks on the right aileron, which is the part of the wing responsible for controlling roll and enabling the airplane to turn, as reported by Airlive.net.

While the cause of the potential gunfire is still under investigation, the incident has sparked concerns regarding safety in Medellín. Once notorious for high levels of violence and drug-related crime in the 1990s, the city has transformed into a popular and vibrant destination for tourists.

Following the discovery, flight technicians at Miami airport conducted temporary structural patching to stabilize the wing, as reported by Airlive.net.

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American Airlines planes are seen at Miami International Airport on May 9, 2024. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)

At 8 p.m., approximately 10 hours after landing in Miami, the plane departed again as a non-commercial flight to American Airlines’ primary maintenance hub at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). The aircraft currently remains grounded at DFW, where specialized engineers are assessing the jet to determine if any additional mechanisms were affected.

An American Airlines jet was discovered with potential bullet holes on its exterior after completing a flight from Medellin, Colombia, to Miami on Monday.

The damage was identified during a routine post-flight inspection of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 at Miami International Airport. According to Airlive.net, the puncture marks, which appeared to resemble bullet holes, were located on the plane’s right wing assembly.

American Airlines confirmed to FOX Business that the aircraft was indeed impacted and is currently undergoing a thorough inspection.

AMERICA’S AIRPORT AFFORDABILITY GAP: CITIES WHERE TRAVEL COSTS ARE CRUSHING FAMILIES

An American Airlines plane taxis to a gate on Jan. 11, 2023. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“Following a routine inspection, our teams identified a puncture to the exterior of one of our aircraft in Medellín, Colombia,” the airline stated. “The aircraft was immediately removed from service for further inspection and repair. We will work closely with all relevant authorities to investigate this incident.”

‘SECURITY-RELATED SITUATION’ GROUNDS FLIGHT TO VACATION HOT SPOT, PASSENGERS CONFINED FOR HOURS

Aerial view of the Moravia hill and neighborhood in Medellin, Colombia, on June 18, 2021. (JOAQUIN SARMIENTO/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The aircraft, registered as N342SX, initially departed Miami on Sunday as Flight AA923 for Medellín’s José María Córdova International Airport, where it remained overnight. The following morning, it completed its return leg as Flight AA924, landing in Miami at approximately 10:33 a.m.

The flight proceeded without any issues during its three-hour journey over the Caribbean, and no injuries were reported, according to the airline.

During the inspection, maintenance crews identified puncture marks on the right aileron, which is the part of the wing responsible for controlling roll and enabling the airplane to turn, as reported by Airlive.net.

While the cause of the potential gunfire is still under investigation, the incident has sparked concerns regarding safety in Medellín. Once notorious for high levels of violence and drug-related crime in the 1990s, the city has transformed into a popular and vibrant destination for tourists.

Following the discovery, flight technicians at Miami airport conducted temporary structural patching to stabilize the wing, as reported by Airlive.net.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

American Airlines planes are seen at Miami International Airport on May 9, 2024. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)

At 8 p.m., approximately 10 hours after landing in Miami, the plane departed again as a non-commercial flight to American Airlines’ primary maintenance hub at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). The aircraft currently remains grounded at DFW, where specialized engineers are assessing the jet to determine if any additional mechanisms were affected.