Bullet holes found on American Airlines plane flying from Colombia to Miami, no one knows how it happened

Bullet holes were found on the exterior of an American Airlines plane after it landed in Miami on February 23. But there is no conclusive information on how and when it happened. The Colombian authorities have started an investigation into the incident, ABC News reported.

The airline said the holes were found during a routine inspection when the plane returned to Miami. Preliminary investigation indicated that the flight might have been struck while landing in Medellin, Colombia, on Sunday.

“The aircraft was immediately removed from service for further inspection and repair. We will work closely with all relevant authorities to investigate this incident,” the airline said in a statement to ABC News. Colombia authroties said they suspect a criminal group behind targeting the flight but it was not a conclusion. No one was hurt and the flight's ability to fly was also not hampered by the bullet attack.




But the bullet holes were not detected earlier when it started from Medellin. Flightradar24 data shows the Boeing 737 MAX 8 traveled from Medellin to Miami on Monday morning and then from Miami to Dallas later that evening.

According to Air Live, the bullet holes were discovered on the aircraft’s wing assembly. Maintenance crews on the ground noticed the puncture marks on the right aileron, which is responsible for the aircraft’s lateral balance.

The incident was first reported by aviation insider JonNYC on X, who reported: “I’m told bullet holes were found on AA aircraft in Medellin, Colombia, Monday morning." The Federal Aviation Administration said the incident was not reported to them.