Boeing 737-800 shot at on runway while preparing to take off in the US

A Southwest Airlines flight was temporarily halted for investigation after being hit by gunfire on the runway.

The incident occurred on a flight preparing to depart from Dallas to Indianapolis.

Fox News reported on November 16th that a Southwest Airlines passenger plane was shot at while preparing to take off from Dallas Love Field Airport in Texas.

The Dallas Police Department confirmed that they received a call reporting the shooting just before 10 p.m. on November 15 (local time).

A Southwest Airlines spokesperson said the Boeing 737-800 operating flight 2494 safely returned to the terminal after a bullet apparently struck the right side of the aircraft while the crew was preparing to depart for Indianapolis, Indiana.

The spokesperson said no injuries were reported. Southwest Airlines said it would arrange for its passengers to be on another flight and said the incident had been reported to law enforcement. The aircraft in question has also been grounded.

A spokesperson for Dallas Love Field Airport also confirmed the incident and said the plane had sustained damage and had returned, where passengers were safely disembarked.

The runway was temporarily closed while police conducted an investigation, but has since reopened. Dallas police confirmed they are investigating the incident. The cause of the shooting is unclear, and no suspect has been found yet.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also confirmed that it was aware of the incident.

This is the second time this week that an aircraft has been hit by gunfire. Previously, a Spirit Airlines plane (USA) departing from Florida was hit by gunfire on November 11 while landing in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

A spokesperson for the airline previously stated that Spirit Flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, had to be diverted to Santiago, Dominican Republic, where the plane landed safely after being hit by gunfire.

Upon arrival in the Dominican Republic, authorities found evidence of damage on the aircraft consistent with gunfire. No passengers on board were injured, but one flight attendant sustained minor injuries.

The FAA suspended flights between the U.S. and Haiti following the incident.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/may-bay-boeing-737-800-bi-ban-tren-duong-bang-khi-chuan-bi-cat-canh-tai-my-185241116161035162.htm