The tense moments aboard a Southwest Airlines flight in the US, which was forced to make an emergency landing after its engine cover detached during takeoff, were detailed in newly released air traffic control audio.
In the recorded audio, a pilot on the flight reported that "several passengers and flight attendants heard something loud hit the wing." Videos shared on social media depicted the engine cover peeling off, catching on the aircraft's wing and flapping in the wind.
The air traffic control official can be heard responding to the situation by declaring an emergency for Southwest 3695 and arranging for an immediate return. "We've got a piece of the engine cowling hanging off apparently," the official stated.
The Boeing 737-800, carrying over 130 passengers bound for Houston, safely returned to Denver International Airport approximately 10 minutes after takeoff. Following the incident, the aircraft was towed to the gate for inspection by a Southwest Airlines maintenance team.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the occurrence, stating that "Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 returned safely to Denver International Airport...after the pilot reported the engine cowling fell off during takeoff and struck the wing flap." An investigation into the incident has been launched by the FAA.
This incident adds to a series of recent safety concerns involving Boeing aircraft. In January, a door panel detached from a Boeing 737 Max 9 during an Alaska Airlines flight, leading to the grounding of the MAX 9 by the FAA and a review of Boeing's quality control procedures. Following this, the FAA announced plans for increased inspections of Boeing aircraft in February.
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