After the engine cover, or cowling, on a Southwest Airlines aircraft broke off mid-flight, the aircraft made a safe landing back at Denver International Airport. The Boeing 737-800 was traveling to Houston when the tragedy happened, carrying 135 passengers and 6 crew members.
Before the crew realized there was a problem and chose to head back to the airfield, the aircraft had climbed to about 10,300 feet. To ascertain the reason behind the cowling separation, Southwest Airlines’ maintenance personnel will examine the aircraft in detail. The airline expressed its dedication to passenger safety and expressed regret for any difficulty that may have been caused.
Boeing is going through a difficult period right now because of manufacturing and safety issues that have arisen in the past few years. The aircraft in question was built in 2015 and used CFM56 engines, which are not the same engines as those found in 737 Max variants. The aircraft was hauled to the gate after landing, according to confirmation from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Boeing sent questions to Southwest Airlines and declined to comment on the event. Passengers will be accommodated on another aircraft to Houston, the airline has informed them, although there will be a three-hour delay.
This event heightens the continued criticism Boeing has been under since its 737 Max aircraft were grounded in 2019 after two tragic disasters. In an effort to rebuild its reputation, the business recently gave Alaska Air $160 million to make up for losses sustained following an emergency landing of one of its planes.
In spite of these obstacles, Boeing keeps up tight collaboration with authorities and airlines to guarantee the dependability and safety of its aircraft. Travelers should be confident that while investigations into this event are ongoing, Southwest and Boeing will always prioritize safety.
