Middle East Airlines Plane Hit By Stray Bullet While Landing In Beirut, No Injuries

PARIS, France - A Middle East Airlines (MEA) passenger plane bound from Jordan to Bierut was hit by a stray bullet while landing in Bierut on Thursday, with no injuries, reported, MEA Chairman Mohamad El-Hout said.

Hout told Reuters that seven to eight stationary planes are hit by stray bullets shot from areas neighboring Beirut each year, but Wednesday's incident was the first time this had occurred while a plane was moving.

Celebratory gunfire is a common occurrence in Lebanon, where gun ownership is widespread and weapons are fired to mark speeches by politicians and the release of official exam results, among other events.

''These practices of shooting in the air in Lebanon must be stopped...it is a source of danger to air traffic and the airport'', Hout said.