United Flight 1302 Delayed 2 Hours After Live Bullet Found on 178-Passenger Jet

Q: How did a live bullet bypass strict airport security to end up on a commercial flight before takeoff?

It is not yet known how the bullet got onto United Flight 1302, and neither United nor TSA has identified an owner or source. The most likely explanations are a screening miss, a round left in a bag or pocket by a passenger, or ammunition that fell from a carry-on and was only noticed once boarding was underway or during crew checks. A single live round can be harder to detect than a firearm because it is small, can sit loose in cluttered bags, and may not immediately stand out on X-ray if packed among dense items. TSA screening is designed to catch prohibited items, but the agency itself notes that even generally detectable items may require extra screening and that final checkpoint decisions depend on officers’ judgment and image interpretation. That means human error, bag clutter, or a rushed checkpoint can create gaps. Another possibility is that the round was not newly introduced by a passenger at all. It could have been left behind from an earlier flight in a seat pocket, on the floor, or in another part of the cabin and only found during pre-departure checks. That would still represent a security failure, but not necessarily a same-day checkpoint breach. What is clear is that the airline treated it as a serious lapse. Passengers were removed with their bags, the plane was searched, and only after security personnel cleared the aircraft did it depart. Until TSA completes any review, the exact path of the bullet onto the plane remains undetermined.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 14

United Flight 1302 from Denver to San Diego was held on the ground Thursday after a live bullet was found on board before departure, forcing all 178 passengers and six crew members off the plane.
The Boeing 737-900 was preparing to leave Denver International Airport when the round was discovered during routine checks, triggering a full security sweep with passengers told to take their carry-on bags.
United said security personnel later cleared the aircraft and the flight departed at about 3:41 p.m. local time, more than two hours after its scheduled 1:25 p.m. takeoff.
The airline said it did not know how the bullet got onto the plane and referred further questions to the TSA, while Denver airport and federal authorities had not immediately provided additional details.