(TheRedAlertNews.com) – An incident bound to send shivers down the spine of any air traveler has seen a Southwest Airlines flight be forced to return after one of its engines began falling apart during the takeoff, with passengers catching the appalling situation on video.
See videos of the horrifying incident below!
Travelers aboard a Southwest Airlines flight destined for Houston were subjected to a distressing sight on Sunday when an engine of the Boeing 737-800 they were on seemed to disintegrate mid-air.
The aircraft was promptly rerouted back to Denver following the crew’s observation that a detachable metal sheet, serving as a cover for one of the engines, had come off during ascent, The New York Post reports.
A harrowing video shared on X by ABC’s chief transportation correspondent, Sam Sweeney, showed the metal engine cover flailing in the wind like paper as it detached.
The Federal Aviation Administration disclosed in a statement that an engine cowling had come loose and impacted one of the aircraft’s wing flaps.
In correspondence with The Post, a spokesperson for Southwest attributed the mishap to a “mechanical issue” with the aircraft, which was constructed in 2017, as per FAA documentation.
“Southwest Flight 3695 returned to Denver International Airport this morning and landed safely after experiencing a mechanical issue,” the spokesperson said.
“Our Customers will arrive at Houston Hobby on another aircraft, approximately three hours behind schedule. 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,” the official elaborated.
The aircraft embarked from Denver International Airport at approximately 7:49 a.m. local time, setting course for William P. Hobby Airport in Houston. It made its return to Denver merely 25 minutes later, securing a landing at 8:14 a.m. before being guided to the gate.
The FAA has initiated an inquiry into the event.
Inquiries directed to Boeing by The Post were deferred to Southwest.
The report points out that incident is part of a concerning sequence of safety challenges that have plagued the aviation manufacturer throughout 2024.
It occurs shortly after the announcement by CEO Dave Calhoun of his decision to resign at the year’s end.
On January 5, a Boeing 737-9 Max operated by Alaska Airlines experienced a perilously close call to catastrophe mid-flight when a door plug, a panel on the fuselage, detached from the aircraft at an altitude of 16,000 feet.
This resulted in an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon with a passenger cabin breach roughly the size of a refrigerator.
Astoundingly, only one individual among the 177 passengers sustained injuries. The US Justice Department has launched a criminal probe into the incident.
Scary moments for passengers on a Southwest flight from Denver to Houston when the engine cover ripped off during flight , forcing the plane to return to Denver Sunday morning. pic.twitter.com/BBpCBXpTsl
— Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) April 7, 2024
BREAKING: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 flight to Houston returns to Denver after engine cover tears open mid-takeoff
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) April 7, 2024
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