A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 engine cover fell off on Sunday during takeoff in Denver, striking the wing flap, which prompted the FAA to investigate the incident.
The airline said that maintenance teams are inspecting the aircraft.
FAA Launches Investigation
On Sunday at approximately 8:15 am local time, Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 safely returned to Denver International Airport and was towed to the gate. The Boeing plane was headed to Houston, carrying 135 passengers and six crew members. No one was injured.
The aircraft was put into service in June 2015 based on FAA data. Boeing forwarded concerns to the airline about the inquiries concerning Southwest Airlines' aircraft and fleet operations.
However, the airline refused to disclose the date of the most recent engine repair on the aircraft.
Footage uploaded on X, formerly Twitter, showed the ripped engine cover flapping in the wind with a torn Southwest logo.
Boeing has been under heavy fire since a door plug panel on a brand-new Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 jet tore off at 16,000 feet (4,800 meters) on January 5.
Following that incident, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered Boeing to produce a comprehensive plan to solve systemic quality-control issues within 90 days, prohibited the company from expanding the Max manufacturing pace, and grounded the Max 9 for a few weeks.
Boeing's monthly output has dipped below the FAA-permitted maximum of 38 Max aircraft, and the US Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into the incident.
The FAA is looking into several other recent Southwest Boeing engine issues.
At a Texas airport on Thursday, a 737 flight reported engine issues, forcing the crew to abort takeoff and taxi back to the gate. The FAA is also looking into a Southwest 737 that returned to the Austin airport in Texas on March 25 after the crew reported a possible engine problem.
On March 22, a Southwest 737-800 aircraft reported an engine problem and was forced to return to the Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida. The FAA is also reviewing it.
Boeing Acknowledges Mistake After Alaska Airlines Incident
Dave Calhoun, president and CEO of giant Boeing aircraft manufacturing company, admitted to the staff that the company acknowledges their mistake following the 737 Max 9 door plug blowout last week on an Alaska Airlines flight, minutes after the aircraft took off from Portland, Oregon.
At the meeting, Calhoun said they would approach this number one, acknowledging their mistake. He noted that they will approach it with 100% and complete transparency every step of the way and will work with the NTSB, which is investigating the accident itself, to determine the cause.
On Friday night, no one was seriously injured in the incident aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. The aircraft headed for Ontario, California, with 174 passengers and six crew members, had to make an emergency landing in Portland.
