A Boeing 737 in Denver loses its engine cowling shortly after takeoff
During takeoff, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 lost one of its engine cowlings and collided with the wing, but fortunately no one was hurt.
The Federal Aviation Administration will look into the incident, which adds to the list of mishaps involving the second-largest aircraft manufacturer in the world, involving a Boeing 737 operated by Southwest Airlines of the United States. The engine cover on the aircraft broke off during takeoff.
The jet, a Boeing 737-800, had to return to Denver International Airport 25 minutes after departure, at 8:15 local time on Sunday (14:15 GMT).
There were 135 passengers and six staff members on the Houston-bound plane, none of whom were hurt.
«We apologize for the inconvenience and delay, but we place our highest priority on maximum safety for our customers and employees. Our maintenance teams are checking the aircraft,» the airline said in a statement Sunday.
The passengers were transferred to another plane, which arrived four hours later.
Sunday’s incident adds to the list of problems for Boeing, the world’s second-largest commercial aircraft manufacturer.
