Live bullet found aboard United flight forces passengers off plane for security sweep at Denver airport

A United Airlines flight from Denver to San Diego was delayed Thursday after a live bullet was discovered aboard the plane before departure, prompting passengers to deplane while security personnel swept the aircraft.

United Flight 1302 was preparing to leave Denver International Airport when the bullet was found during routine checks before the plane taxied to the runway, according to FOX31 Denver, which had a member of its news team aboard the flight.

"The bad news is we found a live round, a bullet on the airplane," the speaker said. "This is a security breach here, and everybody is going to have to deplane."

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A United Airlines plane at Denver International Airport on March 23, 2026. A separate United flight was delayed Aug. 13 after a live bullet was discovered aboard the aircraft before departure. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

Passengers were instructed to leave the Boeing 737-900 with their carry-on bags while security personnel searched the aircraft.

"We need everybody to deplane the aircraft with your carry-on bags. We’re going to have to carry out a security sweep of the aircraft after the plane is empty," the speaker said. "We apologize for this."

The crew said at the time that it did not know how the bullet got aboard the aircraft or where it came from, according to FOX31.

United Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement to Fox News Digital.

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Travelers move through a concourse at Denver International Airport. A United Airlines flight departing Denver was delayed Thursday after a live bullet was discovered aboard the aircraft. (Denver International Airport)

"United flight 1302 from Denver to San Diego underwent a security sweep after a bullet was discovered on board prior to the flight’s departure," a spokesperson wrote. "Security personnel cleared the aircraft, which later departed for San Diego."

United said the Boeing 737-900 was carrying 178 passengers and six crew members. The airline directed additional questions about the incident to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The flight was carrying 178 passengers and six crew members, according to information United provided to FOX31.

Flight 1302 had been scheduled to depart Denver at about 1:25 p.m. local time. It ultimately took off at about 3:41 p.m., more than two hours after its scheduled departure, according to FOX31.

It was not immediately clear who the bullet belonged to or how it ended up on the aircraft.

A United Airlines Boeing 737-900 at Newark Liberty International Airport on Jan. 15, 2026. A United 737-900 carrying 178 passengers underwent a security sweep in Denver on Aug. 13 after a live bullet was found aboard the plane. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

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Fox News Digital reached out to TSA and Denver International Airport for additional information.