DALLAS- A Southwest Airlines (WN) plane was struck by a bullet while preparing for takeoff at Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) on Friday evening (November 15, 2024), prompting an immediate response from authorities.
No injuries were reported among passengers or crew members, the spokesperson confirmed.
Southwest Flight Gunfire at Dallas Love Field
According to a Southwest Airlines spokesperson, Flight WN2494 safely taxied back to the terminal after the bullet hit the aircraft’s right side, just beneath the flight deck, during pre-departure preparations for its scheduled trip to Indianapolis.
Southwest Airlines assured affected customers that they would be accommodated on alternative flights. The airline also stated that the aircraft had been removed from service for further inspection and repair.
According to FlightRadar24 data, the aircraft involved in the incident is a 1.7-year-old Boeing 737 MAX 8, registered as N8858K.
Dallas police have launched an investigation into the incident and are coordinating with law enforcement authorities to determine the source and circumstances surrounding the gunfire.
The FAA has also informed that Southwest Airlines Flight 2494, a Boeing 737-8, was reportedly struck by gunfire near the cockpit while taxiing for takeoff at Dallas Love Field Airport around 8:30 p.m. local time on Friday, November 15.
The aircraft returned to the gate, and passengers safely deplaned. The flight was en route to Indianapolis International Airport (IND).
Similar Incidents
A few days back, the FAA banned U.S. airlines from flying to Haiti for 30 days following gang-related gunfire incidents that struck three planes. The United Nations also temporarily suspended flights to Port-au-Prince (PAP) on Tuesday, further limiting the flow of humanitarian aid into the country.
On Monday, bullets hit a Spirit Airlines (WN) plane as it prepared to land in Haiti’s capital, injuring a flight attendant and prompting the airport to shut down. Photos and videos obtained by The Associated Press revealed bullet holes scattered across the plane’s interior.
JetBlue (B6) and American Airlines (AA) confirmed on Tuesday that post-flight inspections revealed gunfire damage to their planes departing Port-au-Prince on the same day. In response, American Airlines has suspended flights to the capital until February 12.
The attacks coincided with a surge in violence during Haiti’s swearing-in of a new prime minister after a fraught political process. U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric reported 20 armed clashes and numerous roadblocks disrupting humanitarian operations on Monday.
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