Monday, November 18, 2024 - A Southwest Airlines flight preparing to depart from Dallas Love Field airport in Texas on Friday night was struck by a bullet, the airline confirmed.
Flight 2494, bound for Indianapolis, was hit on the right
side of the aircraft, just below the flight deck, moments before takeoff. The
crew immediately returned the plane to the gate, and passengers safely
deplaned. No injuries were reported, and the aircraft was removed from service
for further inspection.
Dallas police responded to the incident at approximately
9:50 p.m. and are conducting an investigation. The airline emphasized that
passenger safety remains a top priority.
“Southwest Airlines Flight 2494 was set to depart for
Indianapolis when a bullet apparently struck the right side of the plane, just
below the flight deck, as the crew was preparing for takeoff,” a spokesperson
said in a statement.
In a separate development, the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) has imposed a 30-day ban on U.S. airlines flying to Haiti
after a series of gunfire incidents targeting aircraft at Toussaint Louverture
International Airport in Port-au-Prince earlier this week.
On Monday, a Spirit Airlines flight was hit by multiple
bullets while attempting to land, injuring a flight attendant. The plane was
forced to divert to an airport in the Dominican Republic. Similar incidents
occurred the following day, with American Airlines and JetBlue flights
departing from Port-au-Prince later discovering bullet holes during
inspections.
The FAA described the escalating violence as a significant
threat to aviation safety, with gang-related shootings near the airport posing
increasing risks.
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