Boeing faces scrutiny after engine cover detaches, forcing emergency landing

A Southwest Airlines flight heading from Denver to Houston encountered a mechanical issue when its Boeing 737-800's engine cover came off during takeoff, striking the wing flap.

This incident forced the aircraft to return to Denver International Airport, and U.S. airline regulators have initiated an investigation.

Carrying 135 passengers and six crew members, Flight 3695 climbed to about 10,300 feet (3139.44 meters) before safely returning 25 minutes after takeoff. Boeing, already dealing with recent safety concerns, now faces additional scrutiny.

The involved aircraft, a model different from Boeing's newer 737 Max, operates with CFM56 engines made by General Electric Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines.

This incident is a new addition to Boeing's ongoing challenges, especially after the global grounding of the 737 Max following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.

In response to the latest event, Southwest Airlines assured that its maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft. Their statement underlined the commitment to safety: "We apologize for the inconvenience of their delay, but place our highest priority on ultimate safety for our customers and employees."

Boeing chose not to comment directly on the incident, redirecting inquiries to Southwest regarding the plane's maintenance.

This malfunction adds to a string of recent troubling incidents for Boeing, including a mid-air blowout in January and a detached door plug panel from a new Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 jet. These events led to grounding orders and demands for Boeing to improve its quality control procedures.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating this latest occurrence and several other incidents involving engine problems on Southwest's Boeing aircraft.

Recent examples include aborted takeoffs and reported engine issues on other flights, increasing concerns over Boeing's manufacturing and safety standards.

Source: Newsroom