A Southwest Airlines flight was struck by gunfire as it prepared for takeoff at Dallas Love Field Airport in Texas, authorities have confirmed.
Flight 2494, bound for Indianapolis, was struck by a bullet on the right side of the aircraft beneath the flight deck, a Southwest Airlines spokesperson told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.
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Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The plane returned to the gate, and passengers safely deplaned, according to an airport representative.
The incident temporarily closed the airport’s runway, which has since reopened.
Dallas police are leading the investigation into the Friday night incident. Officers responded to reports of gunfire at 9:48 p.m. local time (3:48 a.m. GMT on Saturday) and discovered the bullet had struck near the cockpit of the Boeing 737-800 Max aircraft.
While no formal details have been disclosed, local station WFAA reported that police suspect the shooting may have resulted from random gunfire. A total of 99 passengers were aboard the flight, and Southwest has confirmed it will rebook them on other flights.
This incident follows a troubling trend. Earlier this week, three planes were hit by gunfire during landings or takeoffs at Port-au-Prince airport in Haiti amid escalating gang violence.
In response, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a 30-day ban on US airlines flying to Haiti.
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