A Southwest Airlines flight returned safely to Denver International Airport on Sunday after the Boeing 737-800's engine cover fell off during takeoff and struck a wing flap, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
Flight 3695 was headed to Houston but returned to the Denver airport around 8:15 a.m. after the crew reported that the engine cowling had fallen off.
The plane, carrying 135 passengers and five crew members, was towed back to the gate. The FAA said it would investigate.
Southwest Airlines said in a statement that its maintenance team is examining the plane. The passengers boarded separate planes and arrived at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport about three hours later than scheduled, Southwest Airlines said.
“We apologize for any inconvenience this delay may cause, but the ultimate safety of our customers and employees is our top priority,” the statement said.
A video posted on social media taken from a window near the plane's wing shows the blue cowling peeling off the engine as the plane moves down the runway, twisting in the wind and eventually causing most of it to fall off. was reflected.
“Let's declare a state of emergency for Southwest Flight 3695. We request an immediate return,” the crew member said, according to radio communications with air traffic controllers. “Part of the engine cowl has come off.”
The incident comes at a time of increased scrutiny of other episodes in commercial air travel, starting with a tragic emergency on January 5 when a panel known as a door plug blew off on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. Airlines just a few months ago.
Although there were no fatalities, an investigation into Boeing's Max 9 was launched, raising questions about quality control issues in the aircraft's production.
Then, last month, a series of eight episodes about United Airlines planes aired over two weeks.
Maintenance problems, loose tires and missing panels have plagued six Boeing and two Airbus planes. Safety experts said the cases are typical and have been “mistakenly confused with the Boeing problem.”