Bullet discovered on commercial jet at major airport sparks security scare

A single bullet discovered in an overhead bin on a United Airlines Boeing 737 at [Newark Liberty International Airport](https://www.foxnews.com/category/travel/general/airports) (EWR) caused a significant security delay. The incident occurred Feb. 17 on a flight bound for Miami. The plane was declared a crime scene, and was searched and cleared by authorities before departing after a nearly three-hour delay. "On Tuesday, United Flight 1511 underwent [a security sweep](https://www.foxnews.com/category/travel/general/travel-safety) after a bullet was discovered in an overhead bin prior to the flight’s departure," United Airlines told Fox News Digital in a statement. [**SHOCKING AIRPORT SECURITY BUSTS REVEAL BIZARRE AND HIDDEN ITEMS TUCKED AWAY IN LUGGAGE**](https://www.foxnews.com/travel/shocking-airport-security-busts-reveal-bizarre-hidden-items-tucked-luggage) "Security personnel cleared the aircraft, which later departed for Miami," the company's statement concluded. United Flight 1511 had been due to depart from Newark at 2:07 p.m. local time, according to data shared on [FlightAware](https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL1511/history/20260217/1917Z/KEWR/KMIA). After almost three hours, the plane took off at 4:49 p.m.  It [landed in Miami](https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/miami) at 7:33 p.m.  [**'SECURITY-RELATED SITUATION' GROUNDS FIGHT TO VACATION HOT SPOT, PASSENGERS CONFINED FOR HOURS**](https://www.foxnews.com/travel/shocking-airport-security-busts-reveal-bizarre-hidden-items-tucked-luggage) It is still unknown how the bullet entered the aircraft cabin after [multiple screening procedures](https://www.foxnews.com/search-results/search#q=travel%20safety) at Newark.  TSA rules strictly prohibit firearms in carry-on baggage.  Ammunition must be unloaded, locked in a hard-sided container and declared to the airline at the check-in counter as checked baggage, according to the agency.  Firearm magazines and ammunition clips, loaded or empty, need to be securely boxed or included within a hard-sided case containing an unloaded firearm. [**TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ**](https://www.foxnews.com/category/lifestyle/quizzes) "TSA does not confiscate detected firearms in carry-on bags. Screening officers notify law enforcement, who may take possession of the firearm and determine further action," according to [the government website](https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/factsheets/firearms-and-ammunition). [**CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER**](https://www.foxnews.com/newsletters?cmpid=fnfirstnl) This is not the first time a passenger has apparently tried to conceal ammunition at [Newark airport.](https://www.foxnews.com/travel/newark-airport-disruptions-leave-airline-flyers-scrambling-experts-share-tips-not-being-stranded) A Mississippi man was arrested in Oct. 2024 after TSA officers intercepted disassembled gun parts concealed in a boot and a Lego box.  [**CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES**](https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle) An "officer detected the fully disassembled 9mm firearm in a carry-on bag at a checkpoint in Terminal A as the man’s duffle bag entered the checkpoint X-ray machine," according to [a TSA statement](https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2024/10/17/tsa-detects-firearm-parts-artfully-concealed-lego-box-and-boot) at the time. "The gun frame was jammed in the bottom of a boot below a sock … The gun’s slide, spring and gun magazine loaded with 12 bullets were detected mixed among the plastic pieces of a Black Panther Lego set." [Port Authority Police](https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/crime/police-and-law-enforcement) confiscated the items and arrested the passenger, who was ticketed to fly to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.