American Airlines Flight Lands in Miami Riddled with Bullet Holes

An American Airlines jet touched down in Miami without incident. But what ground crews found moments later stunned maintenance crews and triggered a federal review.

Bullet holes.

According to aviation outlet AirLive, American Airlines Flight 923 arrived at Miami International Airport on Monday afternoon following a scheduled trip from Colombia. During a routine post-flight inspection, technicians spotted multiple puncture marks on the right aileron of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 — a critical flight control surface that helps the aircraft maintain lateral balance.

Despite the damage, the plane completed its journey safely. No injuries were reported. Passengers deplaned normally, unaware of what had been discovered beneath the wing.

American Airlines confirmed the aircraft was immediately pulled from service.

“There were no flight-related issues during the operation of the flight,” the airline said in a statement. “The aircraft was removed from service for further inspection and repair. We are working closely with the appropriate authorities to investigate.”

The jet had been operating a round-trip route that included a stop at José María Córdova International Airport in Colombia before returning to Miami. It remains unclear whether the damage occurred while the plane was on the ground overseas or during flight.

A Boeing 737 MAX 8 can carry more than 160 passengers, though the airline has not disclosed how many were onboard Flight 923.

Flight tracking data from FlightAware shows no emergency maneuvers or distress signals during the trip. The landing in Miami appeared routine.

But the discovery quickly shifted the tone.

Technicians in Miami reportedly performed temporary patchwork on the wing surface before the aircraft was ferried Monday evening to American’s primary maintenance hub at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport for a comprehensive structural evaluation.

Engineers are now conducting a full inspection of the affected wing section. Federal aviation authorities are expected to review the findings as part of the investigation.

The incident raises pressing questions. How did live rounds strike a commercial passenger jet? When did the damage occur? And how did the aircraft complete an international flight without triggering onboard alerts?

For now, American Airlines says safety protocols worked as designed.

But the sight of bullet holes on a U.S. commercial airliner — even one that landed safely — is certain to spark concern among travelers and regulators alike.