An American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 arrived at Miami International Airport on Monday morning with apparent bullet holes in its right aileron, prompting an investigation by Colombian authorities.

The aircraft, registered N342SX, had operated as Flight AA924 from Medellín's José María Córdova International Airport, landing around 10:30 a.m. Ground crews discovered the damage during a routine post-flight inspection, revealing puncture marks resembling entry and exit bullet holes through the wing's control surface. The plane carried more than 160 passengers with no reported injuries or flight issues.

The damage likely occurred during the jet's inbound flight, AA923, from Miami to Medellín on Sunday evening. Ground personnel in Colombia first noted a puncture extending through the right-hand aileron after that landing. Pilots and crew reported no anomalies during takeoff from Medellín or the return leg, allowing the aircraft to complete the scheduled route despite the damage.

American Airlines immediately grounded the plane in Miami for temporary structural patching before ferrying it to its Dallas-Fort Worth maintenance facility that evening. The carrier stated: "Following a routine inspection, our teams identified a puncture to the exterior of one of our aircraft in Medellín, Colombia. The aircraft was immediately removed from service for further inspection and repair. We will work closely with all relevant authorities to investigate this incident." As of Wednesday, the jet remained out of service pending a full assessment, including checks for hidden cracks and structural integrity testing.

Colombian officials, including the Civil Aviation Authority, launched a probe, with preliminary findings pointing to gunfire during Sunday's landing approach at Medellín. Authorities suspect involvement by a local criminal organization but have released no further details or suspects. Medellín, once a hub for drug cartels, continues to face security challenges around its airport environs.

This marks at least the second recent incident involving an American Airlines 737 MAX 8 struck by gunfire in Latin America, following a 2024 event in Haiti. Aviation experts note that such damage to composite and aluminum ailerons requires specialized repairs, potentially taking several days, to restore balance and FAA compliance before return to service.