A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 airplane on April 8, 2019.Photo:Getty
Getty
ASouthwest Airlinesflight was forced to make an emergency landing after the engine cover fell off during takeoff in Denver.
In astatement, the Federal Aviation Administration said it has launched an investigation after the aircraft’s crew reported that “the engine cowling fell off during takeoff and struck the wing flap.”
“Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 returned safely toDenver International Airportaround 8:15 a.m. local time on Sunday, April 7,” the statement read in part.
A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines told PEOPLE in a statement that the flight “landed safely after experiencing a mechanical issue.”
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“We place our highest priority on ultimate safety for our customers and employees,” the statement continued, adding that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
A passenger named Lisa C. toldABC Newsthat the engine cover “peeled off within the first 10 minutes” of the flight.
“We all felt kind of a bump, a jolt, and I looked out the window because I love window seats, and there it was,” she said.
A Southwest Airlines plane on Dec. 28, 2022.Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP/Getty
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP/Getty
Meanwhile, passenger Cooper Glass called the incident “frightening.”
“People in the exit row across from me started yelling up to the flight attendants and showed them the damage,” he told the outlet, adding that the pilot “did a great job on landing.”
The airline said no injuries were reported, according toCNN.
Per CNN, in recorded air traffic control audio, one of the pilots said that “several passengers and flight attendants heard something loud hit the wing.”
source: people.com
