In a startling event early Sunday morning, a Southwest Airlines flight bound for Houston was forced to make an emergency return to Denver International Airport after its engine cowling detached and struck the wing flap during takeoff. The Boeing 737, initially heading to William P. Hobby Airport, experienced the malfunction shortly after leaving the gate at 7:39 a.m., causing alarm among passengers and crew.
The engine cowling, a removable metal cover that encases the engine, tore off and began flapping against the plane, a situation captured in distressing video footage circulated by passengers. This incident marks another significant challenge for Southwest Airlines, which has recently faced scrutiny over safety concerns and adverse publicity.
Thankfully, the aircraft managed to land safely back at Denver International Airport at approximately 8:15 a.m., without any reported injuries. Subsequently, passengers were transferred to a different plane, which departed for Houston at 10:41 a.m. Mountain Time, with an expected arrival before 2 p.m. Central Time.
According to eyewitness accounts, the flight crew was alerted to the issue by passengers, leading the pilot to communicate with air traffic control regarding the emergency. “Let’s go ahead and declare an emergency for Southwest 3695. We’ve got a piece of engine cowling hanging off apparently,” the pilot announced over the in-flight PA system.
Further communications revealed the crew’s initial uncertainty about the nature of the damage. “For now, everything’s okay. We don’t even know the nature of it, but apparently, several passengers and flight attendants heard something loud hit the wing,” the pilot relayed to Denver Air Traffic Control.
The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed it will investigate the incident. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines assured that the passengers were safely returned to Denver and efforts were underway to expedite their journey to Houston on an alternate aircraft. The airline’s maintenance teams are currently assessing the damaged aircraft.
