US aviation authorities have commenced an inquiry subsequent to an engine cowling detachment incident during the takeoff of a Boeing aircraft, which resulted in striking the wing flap.
Southwest Airlines flight 3695 ascended to approximately 10,300 feet (3,140 meters) before safely returning to Denver International Airport around 8:15 a.m. local time last Sunday.
The Boeing plane, carrying 135 passengers and six crew members bound for Houston, encountered no injuries. It was brought back to the gate for inspection following landing.
According to FAA records, the aircraft, which commenced operations in June 2015, is under scrutiny by maintenance teams.
Southwest Airlines declined to disclose the recent maintenance history of the plane, deferring inquiries to the airline.
A video circulated online depicted the damaged engine cover, bearing a torn Southwest logo, fluttering in the wind.
This incident adds to the ongoing scrutiny faced by Boeing, which intensified following a similar event involving a new Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 jet on January 5th.
In response to the prior incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) not only grounded the Max 9 for a period but also imposed restrictions on Boeing’s production rates and mandated the formulation of a comprehensive plan to tackle prevailing “systemic quality-control issues” within a specified timeframe.
Boeing’s production output has decreased, adhering to the restricted limit set by the FAA.
Meanwhile, the US Department of Justice has initiated a criminal investigation into the aforementioned incident.
The FAA is also actively investigating multiple recent incidents involving Southwest Boeing engines.
A Southwest 737 flight on Thursday aborted its takeoff in Texas after the crew reported engine issues.
Similarly, a Southwest 737 flight on March 25th returned to Austin airport following a potential engine problem.
Furthermore, a Southwest 737-800 flight on March 22nd returned to Fort Lauderdale airport due to reported engine trouble, currently under review by the FAA.
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