US airline regulators have launched an investigation following an incident where an engine cowling detached from a Boeing 737-800 during take-off and struck a wing flap.
The Southwest Airlines flight safely returned to Denver International Airport at approximately 08:15 local time (15:15 GMT) after departing for Houston.
The aircraft, carrying 135 passengers and six crew members, reached an altitude of about 10,300 feet (3,140m) before landing back in Denver.
This incident occurs amidst ongoing manufacturing and safety concerns at Boeing.
Southwest Airlines has stated that its maintenance teams will conduct a thorough review of the Boeing 737-800 after the engine cowling detached. The airline confirmed responsibility for maintenance of such components.
“We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the delay, but our highest priority remains ensuring the safety of our customers and employees,” the airline stated.
According to records from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft was manufactured in 2015. The Boeing 737-800 is part of an earlier generation of the 737, preceding the latest Max model.
The aircraft involved in the recent incident was equipped with CFM56 engines, whereas the 737 Max models utilize the CFM-Leap engine. Both engine types are manufactured by a joint venture between General Electric Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines.
Following the landing, the FAA reported that the Boeing aircraft was towed to the gate.
Boeing declined to provide comments to BBC News, redirecting inquiries to Southwest for details regarding the airline’s plane and fleet operations.
Southwest announced that affected passengers would be accommodated on another flight to Houston, departing approximately three hours behind schedule.
Boeing has faced increased scrutiny since a harrowing mid-air blowout incident in January, during which passengers on a flight from Portland, Oregon, to California narrowly avoided serious injury.
In response to the emergency, Boeing recently agreed to pay $160 million (£126 million) to Alaska Air to compensate for losses incurred by the airline.
Regulators temporarily grounded nearly 200 Boeing 737 Max 9 jets following an incident in which a door plug fell from an Alaska aircraft shortly after take-off.
Boeing has been working diligently to restore its reputation since the tragic crashes in 2018 and 2019 involving a different variant of the 737 Max aircraft, resulting in the loss of 346 lives. As a consequence of these incidents, the widely-used 737 Max planes were grounded worldwide for over 18 months.
