Southwest Flight Makes Emergency U-Turn After Engine Cover Flies Off
Drama struck early Sunday when a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 bound for Houston was forced to turn back to Denver just after takeoff. At 7:39 a.m., the plane’s engine cowling—a metal cover protecting the engine—snapped off and violently struck the wing flap, sparking panic on board.
Shocking Video Shows Cowling Flapping Wildly in Flight
Passengers captured harrowing footage of the loose engine part flapping dangerously against the wing. The gaping metal chunk flapping about mid-air triggered an emergency return to Denver International Airport, landing safely at 8:15 a.m. No injuries were reported.
Pilot Declares Emergency After Loud Bang and Uncertainty
The pilot told air traffic control, “Let’s go ahead and declare an emergency for Southwest 3695. We’ve got a piece of engine cowling hanging off apparently.” Crew members admitted they weren’t sure of the damage at first. “Several passengers and flight attendants heard something loud hit the wing,” the pilot added during communications with Denver controllers.
FAA Launches Investigation; Passengers Re-Routed
Southwest swiftly moved passengers onto a fresh plane, which departed Denver at 10:41 a.m. and was on course to reach Houston before 2 p.m. The airline’s maintenance crews are now inspecting the damaged jet. The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed a full inquiry into the freak mechanical failure, amid growing scrutiny of Southwest’s safety record.
