American Airlines removed one of its aircraft from service on Sunday after discovering damage to the plane's exterior while it was in Colombia, the company confirmed.

The airline described the damage as a "puncture" found on the aircraft's exterior during operations in Colombia. A source familiar with the matter indicated the damage appeared to be a bullet hole, though the airline has not officially confirmed this characterization.

The aircraft was immediately taken out of service following the discovery, in accordance with standard safety protocols. American Airlines has not disclosed additional details about the specific location where the damage was found or the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The incident occurred amid ongoing safety concerns in the aviation industry, where any structural damage to aircraft exteriors requires immediate attention and investigation. Airlines routinely conduct pre-flight inspections to identify potential safety issues.

American Airlines has not provided information about when the aircraft might return to service or what steps are being taken to investigate the cause of the damage. The Federal Aviation Administration and other relevant authorities are expected to be notified of such incidents involving commercial aircraft.