Mystery bullet hole found in American Airlines plane
A Boeing 737 Max 8 has been pulled from service after airport workers found a bullet hole in the exterior.
During a routine inspection of the American Airlines jet that had landed from Miami, staff at Colombia’s Medellin airport noticed the puncture.
Upon closer inspection, they found a small round hole with an exit point – consistent with what could be a bullet strike on the aircraft.
American Airlines launched an investigation into the puncture and repaired it before flying it back to Dallas for further inspections.
The flight to Medellin had no issues and no injuries from the bullet hole, with Colombia’s Civil Aeronautical Authority issuing a statement after.
‘The Civil Aeronautics Authority remains attentive to any official communication from international agencies or the airline that may clarify the facts and determine the origin of the reported issues,’ it said.
American Airlines said: ‘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 puncture marks were found on the plane’s right aileron, which is used to control the aircraft’s roll and lateral balance.
Authorities aren’t quite sure when the plane was struck by the bullet, but believe it may have happened while landing in Colombia.
A week ago, Gatwick Airport’s train station was cordoned off after reports of a man carrying firearms on board a train.
The services on the Gatwick railway line ground to a halt after the alarm was raised, with eyewitnesses saying a man on board a train from Brighton was carrying a firearm.
Emergency services descended on the station, including officers from British Transport Police and Sussex Police.
Officers discovered a man carrying two imitation firearms, and he was detained.
A British Transport Police spokesperson told Metro: ‘We received a report at 12.45pm on 20 February of a man on board a train from Brighton with a firearm.
‘Sussex Police officers met the train at Gatwick Airport and arrested a man in possession of two imitation firearms.
‘BTP officers are investigating.’
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