A bullet hole can be seen on the top of a Middle East Airlines passenger plane. Image Source: (Twitter)
BEIRUT: Foreign Ministry President Mohamed Al-Haut said, A Middle East Airlines (MEA) passenger plane traveling from Jordan to Beirut was hit by a stray bullet while landing in Beirut airport.
Hout told Reuters that seven to eight stationary aircraft are hit by stray bullets in and around Beirut airport every year, but this was the first time an aircraft had been shot down during operations.
Such celebrations are a common occurrence in Lebanon, where gun ownership is widespread and weapons are fired by politicians to mark speeches and release official test results, among other events.
"These air-shooting practices in Lebanon must be stopped ... It is a source of great danger to air traffic and to the airport," Hout said.
Lebanese MP Paula Yacoubian was on the flight and shared photos on her Twitter page showing the hole in the fuselage.
She said she was sitting in the 2F seat when the incident happened "right above my head".
Source: REUTERS