A Southwest Airlines flight returned to Denver after the engine cover fell off during takeoff, the Federal Aviation Administration said - the latest in a series of safety incidents involving Boeing planes, AFP reports.
The FAA said in a statement that Southwest Airlines Flight 3695, a Boeing 737-800 passenger jet, landed back at Denver International Airport "after the crew reported that the engine cover fell off during takeoff and struck the wing of the aircraft."
The plane, which had taken off at 8.15am on April 7 and was bound for Houston, was towed to the gate after landing and the FAA will investigate the incident, the US aviation authority said.
CNN, ABC and other US television stations broadcast dramatic video footage taken by passengers showing part of the fairing hanging and swaying in the wind.
"Let's go ahead and declare an emergency for Southwest 3695 and we'd like to get back immediately," said a crew member who cited radio transmissions with the air traffic controller. "We've got a piece of the engine cowling hanging off."
Southwest described the incident as a "mechanical issue" and said the flight landed safely and passengers were rebooked on other flights.
"We have apologised to these Customers for the inconvenience of their delay and our maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft. We place the highest priority on the ultimate safety of our customers and employees," a spokesman said.
The plane maker has suffered a string of safety problems in recent years, including the fatal crashes of Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX planes in 2018 and 2019 that killed more than 350 people.
The manufacturer is also still recovering from a near-catastrophic incident in January when a fuselage panel on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 exploded during a U.S. flight.
In March, a Japan-bound Boeing 777 had to make an emergency landing when a wheel fell off during takeoff and landed in a parking lot at San Francisco International Airport.
Last month, U.S. regulators gave Boeing 90 days to submit a plan to address quality control issues, with the head of the FAA saying the company must "commit to real and profound improvements."
The safety issues, which have made headlines, have made the company a common target of criticism on social media. "When one door closes, another opens". - Boeing," reads just one of many popular jokes and memes about the manufacturer.
Meanwhile, the Texas attorney general last month launched an investigation into Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems in connection with repeated problems with some parts it supplies to the U.S. aviation giant.
Spirit AeroSystems manufactures fuselages and other major aircraft parts, including for Boeing's 737 planes.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's announcement came just days after Boeing said some of its top executives, including CEO Dave Calhoun, were leaving the company. / BGNES
