Boeing Engine Cover Falls Off Southwest Airlines Flight, Strikes Wing During Take Off From Denver

A Southwest Airlines airplane comes in for a landing at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, on May 12, 2020. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Southwest Airlines flight 3695 has been forced to land back at Denver International Airport after an engine cowling on a Boeing 737 plane reportedly fell off during takeoff and struck the plane’s wing flap.

The flight apparently rose to about 10,300 feet before returning safely 25 minutes after takeoff. No injuries among the 135 passengers and six crew members aboard were reported. The original destination for the flight was Houston.

The airline has said maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft. At the same time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it will investigate the incident. The plane entered service in June 2015 and is expected to continue operating until at least 2028, according to FAA records.

In multiple social media posts, users shared all-angled footage of the incident, showing a ripped engine cover flapping in the wind and a torn Southwest logo.

Boeing declined to comment and referred inquiries by The Epoch Times to Southwest Airlines.

In a statement to The Epoch Times, a Southwest Airlines spokesperson confirmed the incident and said Southwest Flight 3695 returned to Denver International Airport and landed safely after experiencing a mechanical issue.

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“Our customers arrived at Houston Hobby on another aircraft, approximately three hours behind schedule,” the spokesperson said.

“We apologize for the inconvenience of their delay, but place our highest priority on ultimate safety for our customers and employees. Our maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft.”

In a statement to The Epoch Times, the FAA confirmed they will investigate the circumstances surrounding the engine cowling falling off the plane.

Boeing Planes at Centre of Growing List of Incidents

Plane manufacturer Boeing has come under intense criticism recently over a growing number of incidents with its planes.

A Southwest 737 flight recently had to abort takeoff and taxi back to the gate at an airport in Texas after the crew reported engine problems. The FAA is also currently investigating several other recent Southwest Boeing engine issues.

On Jan. 5, a door plug panel tore off a new Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 jet at 16,000ft, resulting in the FAA grounding the 737 models for weeks and barring Boeing from increasing the Max production rate. Alaska Airlines says Boeing has paid the carrier $160 million in “initial compensation” for the incident.

The regulator also ordered the plane manufacturer to develop a comprehensive plan to address “systemic quality-control issues” within 90 days. The U.S. Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into the incident.

Following the FAAs six-week audit on Boeing’s manufacturing processes for the 737 Max jetliner, its 50-page report was published on Feb. 26. Investigators identified 27 areas where they thought Boeing’s safety procedures and culture were insufficient.

FAA chief Michael Whitaker said on March 19 that after the regulator’s audit and a culture survey of Boeing revealed that the aircraft maker’s “priorities have been on production, and not on safety and quality.”

He claimed that after his recent visit to Boeing’s facilities, he believed there are issues with the aerospace giant’s safety culture.

Boeing Working on Correcting Quality Lapses

Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing’s commercial plane division, claimed in a March update that the “vast majority” of violations found by the FAA involved workers not following Boeing’s approved procedures.

According to Mr. Deal, the company is taking remedial steps, including “working with each employee noted with a non-compliance during the audit to ensure they fully understand the work instructions and procedures.”

The company has also added weekly compliance checks for all work teams in the Renton, Washington, factory, where Max jets are assembled. Mr. Deal said that the aircraft manufacturer will start assessing the status of its factories and, if needed, implement mitigation plans.

“We will not hesitate in stopping a production line or keeping an airplane in position,” he said.

Reuters contributed to this report.

This report was updated with comments from Southwest Airlines and the FAA.