American Airlines repairs gunfire-struck Boeing 737 MAX 8 in five days

According to Flightradar24, the aircraft was taken out of service following several inspections which revealed the bullet damage. After maintenance in Miami, it operated flights between Miami, Martinique, and San Diego.

Repairing aircraft fuselage effectively requires careful consultation of repair manuals and structural assessments to maintain safety. A period of civil unrest and security concerns in Haiti led American Airlines, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, and ultimately the Federal Aviation Administration, to suspend flights to the country.

American Airlines' Boeing 737 MAX 8 plays a significant role in its operations, with the airline fleet comprising 73 MAX 8 aircraft. The aircraft configuration includes 16 first-class seats and 148 economy seats. American Airlines' two-class layout features Main Cabin Extra and Main Cabin seats, which provide different levels of comfort based on pitch and recline space.

JetBlue and Spirit Airlines have also suspended flights to Haiti due to security concerns. JetBlue reported that its aircraft was struck by a bullet on November 11, landing safely at New York’s JFK Airport. Spirit Airlines suspended operations indefinitely after a flight attendant was injured during a similar incident in Port-au-Prince.