An American Airlines aircraft traveling from Miami, Florida, to Medellín, Colombia, appears to have been hit by a bullet during its scheduled flight on Sunday, February 22.
The damage was found on the right wing of a 737 MAX 8 after it operated as flight 923 on Sunday evening. CBS reported that ground crew noticed a puncture during post-landing checks, describing it as one ‘that extends all the way through the right-hand aileron,’ after inspecting the plane once it arrived.
Exactly when and where the impact happened has not been confirmed. However, sources say the hole matches what would be expected from a bullet strike, though that conclusion remains unverified.
CBS News has confirmed an @AmericanAir 737 was found with an apparent bullet hole in the right wing aileron Monday night in Medellin, Colombia. There was damage to the top and bottom of the component consistent with an apparent entry and exit point.
First reported by @xJonNYC https://t.co/W2wXeTzZ55 pic.twitter.com/LrQCxDMolY— Kris Van Cleave (@krisvancleave) February 24, 2026
Aviation blogger JonNYC on X raised concerns about a possible bullet strike on Monday, pointing to what appears to be an entry point that left a small circular hole on one side of the aileron, along with damage consistent with an exit point on the opposite side.
Aileron are essential components for the safe handling and control of most fixed-wing aircraft.
Situated along the trailing edge of each wing, they control roll and help pilots execute turns accurately. They also support lateral stability—particularly during takeoff and landing, and when the aircraft experiences turbulence.
While reports of a possible ‘bullet hole’ may alarm passengers, American Airlines said the flight landed safely and that there were no reported injuries.
In a statement, the airline said it had ‘identified a puncture’ on the aircraft’s exterior during a routine inspection after the plane returned to Miami.
Wow. I'm told bullet holes were found on AA aircraft in Medellin, Colombia Monday morning. N342SX (AA924 Monday)
— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) February 24, 2026
“The aircraft was immediately removed from service for further inspection and repair. We will work closely with all relevant authorities to investigate this incident,” they added.
Authorities are now investigating, and early assessments in Colombia suggest the aircraft may have been struck while landing in Medellín on Sunday.
Officials have not released details about who may have fired at the plane. Investigators have reportedly considered whether a criminal group could be connected to the incident, but no definitive conclusions have been announced.
After the puncture was discovered, the aileron received temporary repairs and the plane flew back to Miami on Monday morning, according to Flightradar24 tracking data. The aircraft then stayed in Florida for about 12 hours before flying to Dallas, where it has remained grounded since.