DURING a flight! A US Airways pilot was suspended after he accidentally discharged his handgun during a flight approaching Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday. The flight was at 8,000 feet when the shot was fired.

The bullet penetrated the fuselage, but did not damage any crucial instruments or wiring. The pilot was carrying the gun under the Federal Flight Deck Officer program, which has trained thousands of pilots to carry weapons to increase aviation safety. Saturday’s incident was the first case of an accidental firing.

No one was injured during the flight, which originated in Denver, Colorado. US Airways said in a statement that it removed the aircraft from service and is cooperating with authorities investigating the incident.