An American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 was found with an apparent bullet hole in its right-hand aileron after operating Flight 923 from Miami to Medellín. Documents and sources said the puncture shows an entry and likely exit point consistent with a gunshot; there were no injuries and the aircraft reported no flight problems. The jet was removed from service for inspection, temporarily repaired and flown back to Miami before later flying to Dallas. Colombian aviation authorities have opened an investigation.
American Airlines 737 MAX 8 Found With Apparent Bullet Hole After Flight To Medellín
An American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 was discovered with what appears to be a bullet hole while the jet was in Medellín, Colombia, officials and documents reviewed by CBS News said.
The puncture was found in the right-hand aileron after the aircraft operated as Flight 923 from Miami to Medellín on Sunday evening. Ground crews reported a hole "that extends all the way through the right-hand aileron," according to documents reviewed by CBS News. It is not yet clear when or where the damage occurred.
Sources told CBS News the damage pattern is consistent with a gunshot: a small, round entry hole on one side of the aileron and likely exit damage on the opposite side. The apparent bullet hole was first publicly noted by airline blogger JonNYC on X.
What an Aileron Does
An aircraft's ailerons are hinged flight-control surfaces on the trailing edges of the wings. They control roll and help the airplane turn and maintain stability.
American Airlines said there were no injuries and that the aircraft experienced no flight-related problems. In a statement to CBS News, the carrier said:
"Following a routine inspection, our teams identified a puncture to the exterior of one of our aircraft in Medellín, Colombia. The aircraft was immediately removed from service for further inspection and repair. We will work closely with all relevant authorities to investigate this incident."
Temporary repairs were completed and the jet returned to Miami on Monday morning, according to flight-tracking data from Flightradar24. The airplane then remained in Florida for roughly 12 hours before operating on to Dallas; it has not flown since, per the tracking data.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Colombia — the country's equivalent of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration — told CBS News it had no immediate information but said it was opening an investigation.
This incident echoes related safety concerns in 2024, when Spirit, JetBlue and American Airlines aircraft were struck by gunfire while taking off or landing in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, amid surging gang violence. At that time the FAA briefly halted flights to Toussaint Louverture International Airport and major carriers suspended service.
What Happens Next
Colombian aviation authorities, American Airlines and other relevant agencies are expected to complete a technical inspection, determine the cause of the damage and, if warranted, open a formal safety investigation. No further operational impacts have been announced.
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