A United Airlines flight set to depart from Newark to Miami was abruptly grounded after a bullet was discovered in an overhead compartment. Security personnel conducted a sweep of the aircraft before it was eventually allowed to take off three hours later than scheduled.

Authorities are still investigating how the lone bullet found its way into an overhead bin, as TSA rules prohibit firearms or ammunition from being taken onboard as cabin baggage.

Bullet In Overhead Compartment Grounds United Flight

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As first reported by CBS News, United Flight 1511 on Tuesday afternoon was preparing to depart from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) en route to Miami International Airport (MIA) when the bullet was discovered. Given the threatening nature of a bullet and the possible presence of a firearm onboard, the aircraft was temporarily declared a crime scene as security forces boarded the aircraft to perform a full sweep. This ultimately delayed the flight from taking off for almost three hours.

The incident raises significant concerns over the effectiveness of TSA screening procedures, whether at Newark or the aircraft’s previous origin airport. As per Flightradar24 data, the aircraft involved — a Boeing 737-900ER (registered as N37456) — had arrived in Newark from Houston (IAH) earlier on Tuesday. Following the security sweep, authorities gave the all-clear and the flight, which was initially scheduled to depart at 2:07 PM, departed safely at 5:05 PM. A United Airlines spokesperson confirmed to Simple Flying,

“On Tuesday, United flight 1511 underwent a security sweep after a bullet was discovered in an overhead bin prior to the flight’s departure. Security personnel cleared the aircraft, which later departed for Miami.”

How Did A Bullet Get Onboard?

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The most likely explanation is that the bullet was accidentally left in the overhead bin by a passenger from the previous flight. This was United Flight 1126 from Houston, Texas, a state with some of the least restrictive gun laws in the US. Law enforcement officers can also be cleared to fly with a loaded firearm in special cases, and in the past have been responsible for leaving live ammunition onboard.

Given the strict security procedures in place at airports, the discovery of live ammunition onboard a commercial aircraft will be a major concern. Under TSA rules, there are no instances where a regular passenger is allowed to carry a firearm or ammunition onto a plane, and there are strict requirements if they wish to check a gun into the hold.

All firearms must be unloaded and stored in a hard-cased container before being declared and transported as checked baggage. The same is true of ammunition and magazines, which must be securely stored in a hard case.

Related

United Airlines Passenger Arrested After Boarding Flight With Gun At Chicago O’Hare

A man was arrested at O’Hare after taking a bag with a gun from TSA. Security checks paused, and police tracked him down near the gate.

Traveling With Guns And Ammunition

Credit: TSA

Passengers who accidentally or intentionally bring weapons or ammunition onto a commercial aircraft will face significant penalties, ranging from fines to criminal charges and possible prison sentences, depending on the nature of the incident. The most severe punishments are reserved for incidents involving loaded weapons, as these pose the clearest threat to flight safety.

But even a solitary bullet can have a significant impact, as it did with United Flight 1511 on Tuesday. Despite the penalties, TSA checkpoints continue to make weapons seizures. For example, last year, a United Airlines passenger flying out of Chicago O’Hare tried to board a flight with a loaded Glock 9mm in his bag, prompting an immediate police response. In another case, the TSA seized a shotgun hidden inside a set of golf clubs while conducting checks in Houston.