Passengers forced to deplane after live bullet found on plane at DIA

A United Airlines flight at Denver International Airport was delayed Thursday after crew members discovered a live bullet on the airplane during routine pre-departure checks, forcing all passengers to deplane, officials said.

The crew made an on-board announcement before the aircraft could taxi to the runway at Denver’s airport, one of the nation’s busiest aviation hubs.

“The bad news is we found a live round, a bullet on the airplane,” a speaker told passengers in a recording captured by a FOX31 news team member who was on board the flight. “This is a security breach here, and everybody is going to have to deplane.”

Passengers were told their bags would need to be removed from the aircraft so the plane could be swept. The crew said it was awaiting supervisors and the Transportation Security Administration.

It was not immediately clear where on the plane the bullet was found, what flight the aircraft was scheduled to operate or how long the delay lasted.

The discovery marks the latest in a string of ammunition-related security incidents at U.S. airports. In February, a bullet was found in an overhead bin on United Flight 1511 at Newark Liberty International Airport, prompting authorities to declare the Boeing 737 a crime scene and delay departure by nearly three hours. In May, police swarmed a Frontier Airlines plane at Denver International Airport after a loaded ammunition magazine was spotted aboard a flight bound for Phoenix just before takeoff.

Under TSA regulations, firearms and ammunition are prohibited in carry-on luggage and aircraft cabins. Ammunition may be transported only in checked baggage under strict packaging guidelines.

Neither United Airlines nor the TSA immediately responded to requests for comment Thursday afternoon.