A Boeing 737-800 plane operated by Southwest Airlines, en route to Houston, safely returned to Denver International Airport after an engine cover fell off and struck the wing flap, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA has stated that it will conduct an investigation into the incident.
According to the air traffic control audio recording, one of the pilots mentioned that several passengers and flight attendants heard a loud noise when something hit the wing.
In response to the incident, Southwest Airlines issued a statement to CNN, informing that the affected passengers would be accommodated on another plane to Houston, resulting in a delay of approximately three hours. The statement expressed apologies for the inconvenience caused by the delay, emphasizing that the safety of their customers and employees is their utmost priority. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Southwest Airlines also mentioned that their maintenance teams would thoroughly review the aircraft, which took off at 7:49 am local time and returned at 8:15 am. The plane had been deemed airworthy in May 2015, according to FAA records.
When approached for comment, Boeing declined and directed CNN to Southwest Airlines for information regarding the plane and fleet operations. This incident adds to a series of mechanical issues that have affected Boeing aircraft across various airlines in recent months, raising concerns about the safety of their planes despite years of scrutiny.
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