Talk about a rough takeoff! 😬
Passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight got the scare of a lifetime when an engine cover on their Boeing 737-800 jet tore off mid-air during takeoff from Denver on Sunday.
The plane was headed to Houston Hobby airport, carrying 135 passengers and six crew members, when things went sideways—literally. The engine cowling ripped off and struck the wing flap, but luckily, no one was injured.
Quick-thinking pilots safely returned the flight to Denver International Airport around 8:15 a.m. local time, just 25 minutes after takeoff. The jet climbed to about 10,300 feet before making its emergency landing.
Passengers were later quoted saying, \"It was like a scene out of a movie!\" 🎬
Everyone was rebooked on another Southwest plane, arriving in Houston about four hours behind schedule. Meanwhile, Southwest's maintenance teams are giving the aircraft a thorough check-up.
FAA Steps In
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) isn't taking this lightly. They've opened an investigation into the incident, especially since it's not the first time Southwest has had engine issues lately.
In fact, just last Thursday, another Southwest 737 had to abort takeoff in Lubbock, Texas due to engine troubles. And back in March, a flight returned to Austin after reporting possible engine issues.
Boeing Under Scrutiny 🧐
The incident adds to Boeing's growing list of headaches. Remember when a door plug panel tore off a new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 at 16,000 feet on January 5? That led the FAA to ground the MAX 9 for weeks, and the Justice Department even launched a criminal investigation!
Boeing's production has slowed down, and the FAA isn't letting them ramp up until they sort out some \"systemic quality-control issues.\"
The Bottom Line
Air travel is generally super safe ✈️, but incidents like these can be pretty unsettling. Rest assured, the FAA is on it, and airlines are taking steps to keep us all flying safely.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
