An American Airlines flight traveling from Miami to Medellín, Colombia, landed with apparent bullet holes in one of its wings on Sunday, February 22, 2026. The incident is prompting investigations from both Colombian and U.S. Authorities.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the damage was discovered on flight 923, which arrived at the José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro, Antioquia, at approximately 9:00 p.m. Local time. The discovery raises concerns about potential security risks for commercial air travel in the region.
“Following a routine inspection, our teams identified a puncture to the exterior of one of our aircraft in Medellín, Colombia,” an airline source said. “The aircraft was immediately removed from service for further inspection and repair. We will perform closely with all relevant authorities to investigate this incident.”
Preliminary assessments indicate the damage is consistent with a bullet strike, with an entry and exit point observed on the aircraft’s right-hand aileron. Temporary repairs were made, allowing the Boeing 737 MAX to return to Miami on Monday, February 23, 2026, for a more thorough examination. No injuries to passengers or crew were reported.
Colombian aviation authorities, known as Aerocivil, confirmed they were notified of the incident by the airline following verification at the Miami airport. However, as of Wednesday, February 24, 2026, they stated they had not received formal notification from the airline, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“To date, this aeronautical authority has not received formal notification about this event from the air operator, nor from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), nor from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), authorities competent in said country,” Aerocivil stated.
American Airlines has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident.
Authorities expect to determine the origin of the damage and where it occurred through judicial investigations in the United States.
The flight path from Miami to Colombia crossed over the Caribbean Sea, where the U.S. Is currently conducting “Operation Southern Lancer,” a large-scale naval deployment that has resulted in 43 interdictions of suspected cocaine-smuggling vessels.
