Bullet hole discovered on American Airlines plane during inspection in Colombia

MEDELLÍN, Colombia — Ground crews discovered a suspected bullet hole in an American Airlines aircraft after it landed in Medellín on Monday, according to airline officials and reports from CBS News.

The hole was found in the right aileron of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 following its arrival from Miami. Sources familiar with the matter stated the damage included clear entry and exit points consistent with gunfire, though it remains unclear exactly when or where the aircraft was struck.

American Airlines confirmed that no injuries were reported and the flight did not encounter any technical issues while in the air.

“Following a routine inspection, our team identified an external hole on one of our aircraft in Medellín,” the airline said in a statement. The carrier immediately removed the plane from service for inspection and repairs.

The aircraft returned to Miami on Monday morning after receiving temporary repairs and is currently being held for further evaluation.

The Colombian Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation into the incident. The discovery comes during a year that has seen multiple U.S. commercial planes struck by gunfire in Haiti amid a surge in gang violence.

The discovery of a bullet hole in an American Airlines aircraft is being treated as a major aviation security breach rather than a routine technical failure. The central focus of the investigation is the precise timing and location of the impact: whether the aircraft was struck while on the tarmac in Miami or Medellín, or during the high-risk takeoff and landing phases. Experts largely rule out a strike occurring at cruising altitude.

This incident echoes similar security lapses in Haiti earlier this year, underscoring a mounting threat to civil aviation in regions where organized crime remains prevalent. Although Colombia’s security environment has stabilized significantly in recent years, this event raises urgent questions regarding airport perimeter security and the safety of flight corridors over volatile areas.

American Airlines’ response followed established safety protocols, immediately removing the aircraft from service for a comprehensive structural audit. Damage to an aileron—a critical flight control surface—is inherently dangerous, regardless of whether it leads to an immediate emergency. The ensuing investigation will likely be a complex bilateral effort, requiring close coordination between U.S. and Colombian authorities. Forensic ballistics analysis will be essential if any projectiles or fragments are recovered.

The broader implications for the industry are significant. This security breach may prompt U.S. carriers to conduct a rigorous review of ground security protocols and flight path viability across certain Latin American markets. It serves as a persistent reminder that localized security volatility remains a constant risk factor in international commercial aviation.