US airline regulators have launched an investigation after an engine cowling on a
Boeing plane fell off during takeoff and struck the wing flap. The Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 returned safely to Denver international airport at about 8.15am local time (15.15 BST) on Sunday and was towed to the gate. The Boeing aircraft with 135 passengers and six crew members aboard had been headed to Houston. No one was injured. The airline said maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft. The plane entered service in June 2015, according to FAA records. Boeing referred questions to Southwest for information about the airline’s airplane and fleet operations. The airline declined to say when the plane’s engine had last had maintenance. Footage posted on X showed the ripped engine cover flapping in the wind with a torn Southwest logo. Boeing has come under intense criticism since a door plug panel tore off a new Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 jet at 16,000ft (4,800 metres) on 5 January. In the aftermath of that incident, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded the Max 9 for several weeks, barred Boeing from increasing the Max production rate and ordered it to develop a comprehensive plan to address “systemic quality-control issues” within 90 days. Boeing production has fallen below the maximum 38 Max planes a month the FAA is allowing, while the US
Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the incident. The FAA is investigating several other recent Southwest Boeing engine issues. A Southwest 737 flight on Thursday aborted takeoff and taxied back to the gate at an airport in
Texas after the crew reported engine problems. The FAA is also investigating a Southwest 737 flight on 25 March that returned to the Austin airport in Texas after the crew reported a possible engine problem. A Southwest 737-800 flight on 22 March returned to Fort Lauderdale airport in
Florida after the crew reported an engine issue. It is also being reviewed by the FAA.