Punctures were found in the exterior of the aircraft following its flight from Medellín on Monday, Feb. 23
Credit: Kevin Carter/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Bullet holes were found on the exterior of an American Airlines plane on Monday, Feb. 23, following a flight from Medellín, Colombia, to Miami
- The airline told ABC News the aircraft was “immediately removed from service” for inspections and repair
- The plane had traveled to Medellín the previous day, with Colombian authorities now reportedly investigating the incident
An American Airlines plane that traveled between Medellín, Colombia, and Miami was found with bullet holes after it landed in Florida on Monday.
According to ABC News, Colombian authorities are investigating the incident. The preliminary investigation indicates the flight was struck while landing in Medellín on Sunday, Feb. 22, according to local officials, per the outlet.
No injuries were reported amid the incident.
In a statement to ABC News, American Airlines said a puncture was discovered on the plane’s exterior during a routine inspection after landing in Miami.
Credit: Kevin Carter/Getty
“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.
According to data from Flightradar24, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane traveled from Miami to Medellín on Sunday evening and returned to Miami on Monday morning.
The plane then traveled to Dallas, Texas, later that day, landing at 10:23 p.m. local time.
According to American Airlines, per ABC News, the plane was sent there for repairs. The airline’s headquarters are in Fort Worth, Texas.
The airline said the puncture did not cause any issues with flying the plane, according to the outlet.
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, per the outlet.
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ABC News reported that authorities said they are focusing on a criminal group being behind the incident, though nothing is conclusive.
PEOPLE has contacted American Airlines and the National Police of Colombia for comment.
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