Southwest Airlines Boeing Plane Forced to Return to Airport After Engine Cover Falls Off

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an incident involving a Southwest Airlines flight that was forced to return to its point of origin after the cowling, or covering, on one of its engines fell off during takeoff and struck the wing flap of the aircraft.

News of the incident on Southwest Flight 3695, a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, spread rapidly on social media on Sunday after passengers published videos of the flapping cowling. A purported recording of the plane’s pilots communicating the emergency to air traffic controllers also made the rounds online, though Gizmodo was unable to immediately confirm its authenticity.

Flight 3695 took off from Denver on Sunday morning and was headed to Houston. The aircraft returned safely to Denver after the incident was identified.

“Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 returned safely to Denver International Airport around 8:15 a.m. local time on Sunday, April 7, after the crew reported the engine cowling fell off during takeoff and struck the wing flap,” an FAA spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Gizmodo. “The Boeing 737-800 was towed to the gate. The aircraft was headed to William P. Hobby Airport in Houston. The FAA will investigate.”

A cowling is a protective covering that goes over the airplane’s engine, according to Reuters, and it is typically made of metal or a composite material. The cowling plays an important role in flight, the outlet stated, reducing drag and increasing speed. It also allows the engine to cool more efficiently and protects the engine’s controls.

The Boeing 737-800 in question was manufactured in 2015, according to the FAA’s database.

According to The Washington Post, flight 3695 carried 135 passengers, two lap-held infants, and six crew members. In an emailed response on Monday, Southwest Airlines told Gizmodo that the plane suffered a “mechanical issue.” It added that passengers arrived in Houston on another plane approximately three hours behind schedule. There were no injuries reported, according to the Post.

“We apologized to those Customers for the inconvenience of their delay and our Maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft. We place our highest priority on ultimate Safety for our Customers and Employees,” Southwest Airlines said. “The investigation is still underway, and we do not have anything additional to add at this time.”

The incident with flight 3695 is likely to heighten tensions around Boeing aircraft, which have been the subject of federal scrutiny since a door on an Alaska Airlines flight blew out in the air in January. The incident led to the resignation of Boeing CEO David Calhoun as well as several other Boeing executives.

Public sentiment around Boeing planes has also taken a hit, with many people nervous about flying on the company’s planes. In mid-March, the founder of the startup Anecdote created a new website called “Am I flying on a Boeing?” The website allows users to determine whether they’re flying on a Boeing plane by simply typing in their flight number and the date they’re flying.

“Boeing’s been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately. If you’re wondering how to check if you’re flying Boeing, just pop in your next flight number and check your fate flight,” the site reads.

When reached for comment by Gizmodo on Monday, Boeing directed inquiries to Southwest Airlines.

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