According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a Southwest Airlines flight had to make an
emergency landing Sunday morning after the engine cover detached during takeoff, striking the wing flap. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft was scheduled to fly from Denver to William P. Hobby Airport in Houston. (per ABC News).
Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 returned safely to Denver International Airport around 8:15 a.m. local time on Sunday and was towed to the gate. The FAA said on Sunday that it will launch an investigation of the engine cowling incident (the cowling is the protective cover over the plane’s engine).
In a statement, Southwest Airlines said the flight “landed safely after experiencing a mechanical issue.” Customers were rebooked on other flights, and maintenance teams are now inspecting the plane, the airline said.
This is the second incident in recent days involving a reported malfunctioning of equipment on a Southwest Airlines flight. The FAA is investigating a reported engine fire before takeoff at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport on Thursday.
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