American Airlines removed a Boeing 737 MAX 8 from service after workers found a puncture in a right-wing aileron following a round-trip flight between Miami and Medellín, Colombia, a discovery that prompted U.S. and Colombian authorities to investigate what happened.
The airline said no one was hurt and the crew reported no in-flight problems, but the location of the damage drew immediate attention because the aileron is a flight control surface used to help an aircraft roll and turn. The case has centered on a basic question investigators still have not answered publicly: whether the puncture happened on the ground, during taxi, on takeoff, during approach, or after landing. American said it pulled the plane for inspection and repair while officials in Colombia began reviewing information tied to the aircraft’s time near Medellín.
The aircraft flew from Miami to José María Córdova International Airport near Medellín on Sunday evening as American Airlines Flight 923, according to reports based on internal documents and flight-tracking data. After the jet arrived in Colombia, ground personnel reported a puncture that appeared to extend through the right-hand aileron, according to documents described in U.S. media reports. The plane remained overnight and later departed Colombia for Florida. It returned to Miami on Monday morning as Flight 924, and American said neither segment produced any operational complaints from the flight crew.
After the aircraft arrived at Miami International Airport, maintenance workers noted the damage during postflight work after passengers had left the plane, according to local television and business media reports that described slightly different arrival times. The airline said it found a puncture on the exterior during a routine inspection and immediately removed the jet from service for further inspection and repair. American said the puncture did not cause problems during flight and that no injuries were reported. The company said it was working with relevant authorities while the incident is investigated.
Investigators focused on the aileron because it is a movable control surface on the trailing edge of the wing, used with other systems to help keep the plane balanced in turns. Aviation specialists said modern airliners are designed with layers of redundancy, but any unexplained puncture in a control surface still triggers careful review. Officials must determine whether the hole affected only the outer skin or also struck internal structures, fasteners, or linkages. Maintenance teams also must confirm whether other parts of the wing show related damage, and they must document any repair steps before the aircraft returns to passenger service.
Public reporting described the puncture as consistent with a bullet strike, including a small, round entry point and additional damage that suggested the object passed through the surface. Even so, authorities have not publicly confirmed key details that typically settle such cases, including whether a projectile was recovered, what caliber it might be, or whether the aircraft was struck once or more than once. Officials also have not said whether they believe the aircraft was intentionally targeted or hit by stray gunfire. As of Tuesday night, no law enforcement agency had announced arrests, and no one had publicly claimed responsibility for a shooting tied to the flight.
Colombian officials told U.S. media that an early review suggested the aircraft may have been struck while landing in Medellín on Sunday, though they cautioned the inquiry was still in its early stages. That possibility has drawn attention to the environment around airports, where aircraft can fly low over neighborhoods during approach and departure. Investigators typically review camera footage, airfield access logs, perimeter patrol reports and any calls about gunfire that match the timing of an arrival. They can also compare the aircraft’s flight path and altitude data with known locations where shots were reported, though authorities have not publicly detailed which of those steps are underway in this case.
The Miami-to-Medellín route is a busy international market, and Miami International Airport is one of American’s major gateways for Latin America. José María Córdova International Airport sits in mountainous terrain outside Medellín, and aircraft often follow approach corridors shaped by hills and dense development. Officials have not said whether the airport perimeter, an area beyond airport property, or a different point along the trip could be connected to the damage. Reports differed on when the puncture was first noticed, with some accounts placing the discovery in Colombia and others emphasizing the inspection after the plane returned to Miami, a difference that can affect where investigators focus early interviews and evidence collection.
American has not publicly described the precise maintenance approvals behind the next step the aircraft took after the puncture came to light: relocation to a repair base. Reporting identified the jet as registered as N342SX and said it later traveled from Miami to the Dallas area, where American has major maintenance operations. In commercial aviation, airlines can sometimes fly a damaged aircraft under specific restrictions after qualified technicians evaluate the condition and certify it is safe for a limited repositioning flight. Such moves follow maintenance procedures and regulatory requirements, and they allow deeper work to take place at facilities with specialized tooling and staff.
The incident revived memories of other cases in the region where gunfire struck aircraft near airports, including episodes reported in Haiti in 2024 as violence surged and carriers limited service. Officials have not presented public evidence linking the Colombia case to those events, but investigators often compare earlier incidents to understand how aircraft can be exposed to gunfire during low-altitude phases of flight. In this case, the known facts remain narrow but significant: a 737 MAX 8 operated a round trip between Miami and Medellín, no injuries were reported, the crew reported no in-flight problems, and maintenance workers found puncture damage in the right aileron that appeared consistent with gunfire.
As the investigation continues, authorities are expected to release a fuller account of when the puncture occurred and what caused it, while American’s maintenance teams complete an engineering assessment and repairs before the aircraft returns to passenger service.
Author note: Last updated February 25, 2026.