Pilot finds hole in aircraft

[Kip Powick]

Not that this is an earth shattering story but can you believe this.........The Captain must have been doing the 'walk-around'. :Grin-Nod: (must have been a clear, sunny and warm day )

(CNN) -- A US Airways 737 pilot in Charlotte, North Carolina, discovered a small hole in the exterior of his plane's fuselage Monday, prompting the airline to take the plane out of service and for the FBI to begin an investigation.

"During a pre-flight inspection, one of our captains noticed a small hole in the fuselage," said US Airways spokeswoman Valerie Wunder.

"Safety is paramount, so we took that aircraft out of service and our maintenance team is investigating," she said.

Wunder said that she had not seen the aircraft and could not characterize the size or shape of the hole, but said it was towards the rear of the aircraft.

Amy Thorseson, spokeswoman for the FBI in Charlotte, confirmed that the federal agency had an evidence team at the scene, but it was not immediately known what caused the hole in the plane.

The plane -- a 737-400 designated as flight 1161 from Philadelphia -- landed without incident at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport at about 4 p.m.

The plane holds 144 passengers, according to the US Airways website.

It was not immediately known how many people were aboard the aircraft, but all of the passengers were accommodated on other flights, according to a US Airways spokeswoman

[conehead]

Stray bullet?

[Kip Powick]

Stray bullet?

You be the winner !!!!!

(CNN) -- A hole in a US Airways jet that landed in Charlotte, North Carolina, was caused by a bullet that pierced the passenger cabin, three government sources told CNN Tuesday.

Officials believe the bullet was fired in Charlotte, after passengers had exited the aircraft, one source said. The hole was discovered after the Boeing 737-400 landed Monday.

The sources said a bullet has been recovered inside the plane.

"We do not believe its terrorism related," said one of the government sources. "It appears to be a random event. We do not believe the plane was targeted. No one heard the bullet fired."

An investigation into who fired the shot into the aircraft has begun, said multiple government sources.Flight 1161 from Philadelphia landed safely at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport about 4 p.m. Monday. The plane was being prepped for another flight when the pilot discovered the hole above a passenger window window. The airline pulled the jet from service and called in the FBI.

The plane holds 144 passengers, according to the US Airways website. It was not immediately clear how many people were aboard the flight. All of the passengers on the next flight were accommodated on other planes, a US Airways spokeswoman said.

"We've released the plane back to US Airways last night," after completing their investigation, FBI spokeswoman Amy Thoreson said Tuesday.

But the airplane remained grounded Tuesday while US Airways performed its own investigation, said company spokeswoman Valerie Wunder.

Before the plane can be put back into service, it will have to be inspected by the Federal Aviation Administration for flight certification, according to agency spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen

[mo32a]

A Southwest 737 made an emergency landing today in Yuma AZ after leaving PHX due to a sudden hole in the aircraft causing depressurization.

One FA was hurt in the rapid descent. No indication of what caused the hole.