Passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight were left startled as the engine cowling of their Boeing 737-800 aircraft detached during take-off, prompting an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration into the aircraft’s safety and maintenance procedures.
On a recent flight departing from Denver International Airport, passengers aboard Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 experienced a startling event when the engine cowling of their Boeing 737-800 aircraft detached during take-off. The incident, which occurred as the plane ascended to 10,300 feet, was captured on video by passengers, showcasing the engine cover coming loose and striking the wing flap. Despite the potential hazard, the aircraft, carrying 135 passengers and six crew members, safely returned to Denver within 25 minutes of take-off. Remarkably, there were no injuries reported from the occurrence.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an investigation into this incident. This event has raised concerns over the safety and maintenance procedures of Boeing aircraft, echoing past incidents, such as a door panel detachment from an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 earlier in the year, which resulted in the temporary grounding of the MAX 9 fleet. Additionally, the FAA has called for mandatory inspections and potential component replacements for Boeing 737 NG aircraft following a fatal incident in 2018 involving a Southwest plane.
Southwest Airlines has pledged to cooperate with the authorities to pinpoint the cause of the engine cowling detachment. This event aligns with a series of engine-related issues on Southwest’s Boeing planes currently under scrutiny. As investigations proceed, aviation authorities, airlines, and passengers await further insights into the circumstances of this recent engine failure and any consequent safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
