A Boeing 737 plane operated by Southwest Airlines lost the cover to its engine while taking off from Denver International Airport Sunday.
The engine cowl from the plane’s right side flew open and got lodged on the plane’s wing in video captured by passengers. As a result, the plane immediately landed back in Denver after take-off and transported its passengers off the aircraft. They were headed to Houston, Texas at the time.
Southwest Airlines told the Washington Examiner Airlines that the incident aas a “mechanical issue.”
“Our Customers arrived at Houston Hobby on another aircraft, approximately three hours behind schedule,” Southwest explained. “We apologize for the inconvenience of their delay, but we place our highest priority on the Safety of our Customers and Employees. Our Maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft.”
Boeing refused to comment when the Washington Examiner reached out.
This involved plane was less than ten years old. These cowls are regularly opened to review their safety in between travel. They have latches to lock it in place. The FAA is investigating what happened.
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The last time a similar incident occurred was in 2018 with an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737.
Boeing has come under intense scrutiny after an Alaska Airlines Boeing flight was forced to make an emergency landing when its door plug blew out mid-flight. There was another incident of a tire falling off of a Boeing plane. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun has since announced his plans to step down at the end of the year.
