The Federal Aviation Administration announced Sunday that it is launching an investigation after the engine cowling of a Southwest Airlines jetliner fell off and struck a wing flap during takeoff in Denver. A cowling is a protective cover that covers an airplane's engine.
Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 returned safely to Denver International Airport around 8:15 a.m. local time Sunday after the pilot reported the accident, the FAA said. The plane was headed to Houston's William P. Hobby Airport.
Southwest Airlines said in a statement that after Flight 3695 landed safely in Denver, it is working to transfer customers to Houston on another aircraft and maintenance teams are inspecting the aircraft.
Frank Sanger, who was on the plane, expressed shock when he took one look at the condition of the plane as he disembarked.
“You could see the jet engine panels being ripped off all the way around,” Sanger said in an interview aired Monday on NBC's “TODAY.”
This is the second reported incident of equipment failure on a Southwest Airlines flight in recent days. The FAA is investigating an engine fire reported before takeoff Thursday at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport.
United Airlines flights have also faced safety issues recently, with eight incidents reported in the past two weeks.
Sasha Johnson, United's vice president of corporate safety, said in a statement that the FAA will play a larger role within the airline.
“In the coming weeks, we will see an increased FAA presence in our operations as the FAA begins reviewing some of our work processes, manuals and facilities,” Johnson said.
These incidents come on the heels of continued scrutiny of the airline industry, with Boeing being investigated by the FAA, Department of Justice, and National Transportation Safety Board following the Alaska Airlines door plug explosion. Ta.
