NI Bureau
In a distressing incident amid ongoing issues for Boeing, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 headed to Houston had to return to Denver after its engine cover detached and struck the wing flap during takeoff on Sunday morning, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The aircraft landed safely, and passengers were re-accommodated on another flight to Houston, Southwest Airlines confirmed in a statement.
“We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the delay, but the safety of our customers and employees is our top priority. Our maintenance teams are currently inspecting the aircraft,” the statement read.
Passengers aboard the flight recorded videos of the incident and shared them on social media, which quickly went viral. In the footage, the pilot can be heard declaring an emergency landing.
“We have a piece of the engine cowling hanging off, apparently,” the pilot can be heard saying.
A cowling is the removable covering of a vehicle’s engine, used to enclose engines in vehicles and aircraft.
“Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 returned safely to Denver International Airport around 8:15 a.m in the morning. local time on Sunday, April 7, after the pilot reported that the engine cowling fell off during takeoff and struck the wing flap,” the FAA statement explained.
“The Boeing 737-800 was towed to the gate. The flight was destined for William P. Hobby Airport in Houston. The FAA will conduct an investigation,” it added.
It has been a challenging week for the airline, with another flight from Texas canceled due to an engine fire. The Lubbock, Texas fire department confirmed that one of the twin engines of the Boeing 737-800 needed inspection due to a fire.
The FAA is currently handling two investigations related to recent incidents involving older versions of the Boeing 737-800, distinct from the 737 Max models.
