Southwest Flight Struck by Gunfire at Dallas Love Field Airport

In a startling incident on Friday night, a Southwest Airlines flight preparing for takeoff was struck by a bullet at Dallas Love Field Airport in Texas. Authorities confirmed that Flight 2494, which was set to depart for Indianapolis, was impacted by gunfire, causing significant concern among passengers and staff.

According to a statement from Southwest Airlines, the bullet struck the right side of the aircraft below the flight deck. Fortunately, none of the 99 passengers onboard reported injuries. The plane, a Boeing 737-800 Max, was brought back to its gate without further incident, and all passengers were safely deplaned.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) corroborated that the shot hit near the cockpit, a detail that heightened concerns over potential risk to flight crew and passengers. An airport spokesperson noted that the runway was temporarily shut down as a precaution but has since been reopened for operations.

Dallas police responded to reports of gunfire at 9:48 p.m. local time (3:48 a.m. GMT Saturday) and launched an immediate investigation. Early reports from local news outlet WFAA suggest that authorities believe the shooting may have been due to random gunfire in the area. However, officials have not yet released comprehensive details regarding the circumstances.

Southwest Airlines has assured that all affected passengers will be re-accommodated on other flights to ensure their travel plans continue with minimal disruption.

The investigation led by Dallas police is ongoing as they seek to determine the source and motive behind the incident.