Perforated Journey: AA Jet Reveals Bullet Damage After Colombia Flight

On Monday, an American Airlines aircraft was discovered to have potential bullet perforations on its outer surface, subsequent to concluding a journey from Medellin, Colombia, to Miami.

This impairment came to light during a standard examination following the flight of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 at Miami International Airport.

As per Airlive.net, the perforations appeared akin to bullet impacts and were located on the plane’s starboard wing structure.

American Airlines verified with FOX Business that the jet incurred an impact and is presently being examined. 

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“After a standard examination, our personnel detected a perforation on the outer surface of one of our aircraft in Medellín, Colombia,” the airline stated.

“The aircraft was promptly taken out of operation for additional scrutiny and mending. We will collaborate intimately with all pertinent agencies to probe this occurrence.”

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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, identified by registration N342SX, initially took off from Miami Sunday as Flight AA923 for Medellín’s José María Córdova International Airport, where it remained through the night in Colombia, according to AirNavRadar.

The following morning, it concluded its inbound journey as Flight AA924, touching down in Miami at approximately 10:33 a.m.

The journey proceeded smoothly throughout its three-hour transit over the Caribbean, and no injuries were reported, the airline told FOX Business.

While inspecting, maintenance teams observed perforations on the right aileron, the wing component responsible for regulating roll and enabling the aircraft to maneuver, Airlive.net reported.

Although the origin of the potential bullet impacts is still being probed, the incident has sparked worries regarding security in Medellín. The city, now a frequented and lively spot for tourists, was once infamous during the 1990s due to significant violence and illicit drug activities.

Subsequent to the finding, aviation mechanics at the Miami airport performed provisional structural mending to reinforce the wing, Airlive.net said.

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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)

Around 8 p.m., approximately 10 hours post-touchdown in Miami, the plane took off once more as a non-commercial flight to American Airlines’ chief repair facility at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). 

The plane is presently kept out of service at DFW, where expert engineers can evaluate the aircraft and ascertain if any other components sustained damage.