A Southwest Airlines flight departing from Denver was compelled to return after its engine cover ripped off, striking the wing flap during takeoff, as confirmed by the Civil Aviation Authority.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday morning, led to the safe landing of the Boeing 737 aircraft. Southwest Airlines assured passengers destined for Houston that they would be accommodated on another flight, emphasising their commitment to safety in a statement: “We apologise for the inconvenience of their delay, but place our highest priority on ultimate Safety for our Customers and Employees. Our Maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft.”
This marks the second operational setback for the airline within the week. Earlier, a flight originating from Texas was cancelled due to reports of an engine fire. The fire department in Lubbock, Texas, confirmed via online sources that one of the engines had caught fire, necessitating extinguishing.
Both incidents involving Southwest Airlines are under investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority. Notably, the aircraft involved were Boeing 737-800s, an older model compared to the 737 Max.
