A United Airlines flight bound for San Diego was significantly delayed at Denver International Airport on Thursday after a live bullet was discovered on board the aircraft. The discovery prompted the deplaning of all passengers and crew for a thorough security sweep.
United Flight 1302, a Boeing 737-900 carrying 178 passengers and six crew members, was preparing for departure when the live round was found during routine checks. "The bad news is we found a live round, a bullet on the airplane," an unidentified speaker announced, according to FOX31 Denver, which had a news team member aboard the flight. "This is a security breach here, and everybody is going to have to deplane."
Passengers were instructed to gather their carry-on bags and exit the aircraft while security personnel conducted a sweep. The flight crew indicated they were unaware of how the bullet came to be on the plane.
A United Airlines spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating, "United flight 1302 from Denver to San Diego underwent a security sweep after a bullet was discovered on board prior to the flight’s departure." The spokesperson added that security personnel cleared the aircraft, which subsequently departed for San Diego. The airline directed further inquiries to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The flight was originally scheduled to depart Denver at approximately 1:25 p.m. local time. It ultimately took off at around 3:41 p.m., resulting in a delay of over two hours. The origin or owner of the bullet remains unclear.
