Bullet on United Flight at Newark Airport Sparks Security Concerns

A single bullet discovered in an overhead bin aboard a United Airlines (UA) flight prompted a significant security response and a lengthy delay at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on February 17. The incident occurred on United Flight 1511, a Boeing 737 service bound for Miami, raising questions about how the prohibited item bypassed multiple layers of security screening.

The discovery led authorities to declare the aircraft a crime scene. Passengers were deplaned while security personnel conducted a thorough sweep of the cabin. According to data from FlightAware, the flight was scheduled to depart at 2:07 p.m. local time but did not take off until 4:49 p.m., resulting in a delay of nearly three hours. The aircraft landed safely in Miami at 7:33 p.m.

In a statement, United Airlines confirmed the event. “On Tuesday, United Flight 1511 underwent a security sweep after a bullet was discovered in an overhead bin prior to the flight’s departure,” the airline told Fox News Digital. “Security personnel cleared the aircraft, which later departed for Miami.” The carrier did not provide further details on how the bullet was found or by whom.

TSA Regulations and Procedures

The incident highlights the strict regulations enforced by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regarding firearms and ammunition. Federal law explicitly prohibits passengers from carrying firearms or ammunition into an aircraft cabin. According to the TSA's official guidelines, ammunition must be declared at the check-in counter and transported in checked baggage. It must be unloaded and securely packed in a hard-sided, locked container made of fiber, wood, plastic, or metal. Firearm magazines and clips must also be securely boxed or stored in a hard-sided case, whether loaded or empty.

When TSA screening officers detect a firearm or prohibited items at a security checkpoint, they do not confiscate the weapon. Instead, their protocol is to immediately notify local law enforcement. The law enforcement officers then take possession of the firearm and determine the appropriate course of action, which can include arrest and civil penalties levied by the TSA.

A Pattern of Concealment at Newark

This is not the first time a significant security breach involving prohibited items has occurred at Newark. In a separate incident in October 2024, TSA officers intercepted a disassembled firearm that a passenger had attempted to conceal in his carry-on luggage. A Mississippi man was arrested after officers discovered parts of a 9mm firearm hidden in a boot and a Lego box.

According to a TSA press release from that time, an officer detected the disassembled parts as the passenger's bag passed through an X-ray machine. The gun's frame was found “jammed in the bottom of a boot below a sock,” while the slide, spring, and a magazine loaded with 12 bullets were mixed in with the plastic pieces of a Black Panther Lego set. Port Authority Police confiscated the items and arrested the passenger.

At the time, Thomas Carter, TSA's Federal Security Director for New Jersey, commented on the intentional nature of the concealment. “This is an example of someone who was intentionally attempting to carry a gun onto a flight...it was a fully disassembled firearm that he could easily have assembled and used on a plane,” Carter stated.

Why This Matters

The discovery of a bullet aboard Flight 1511 underscores the persistent challenge of detecting prohibited items despite advanced screening technology and established protocols. Such incidents cause significant operational disruptions for airlines and airports, leading to costly delays and impacting passenger confidence. For security agencies, it serves as a critical reminder of the continuous need to adapt screening methods to counter evolving concealment tactics and ensure the integrity of aviation security.

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