A Southwest Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing Sunday morning after its engine cover came off during takeoff, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Boeing 737-800 plane, which was supposed to fly from Denver to Houston in the United States, landed safely at Denver International Airport shortly after 8 a.m. and was towed to the gate, according to the airport and The Air company.
Crew members aboard the flight said so, according to the FAA, which is now investigating the crash “The engine cowling fell off during takeoff and hit the wing flap.”
In a statement, Southwest Airlines said the flight “landed safely after experiencing a mechanical issue.” Customers have been rebooked on other flights and maintenance teams are now inspecting the plane, the airline said.
Images taken by some passengers showed what appeared to be part of the plane hovering and fluttering during the flight.
“Everything just flew away,” one person is heard saying in a video shot by passenger Lisa C.after which several people on board can be heard bursting into cheers as the plane lands again.
10 minutes into the flight, the plane had an accident which forced it to return to the departure airport.The engine cover “came off within the first 10 minutes” of the flight, Lisa C. told ABC News.
“We all felt kind of a jolt, a jolt, and I looked out the window because I love window seats, and there she was.”She said.
Another passenger, Cooper Glass, told ABC News The experience was “terrifying”.
“The people in the exit row in front of me started yelling at the flight attendants and showing them the damage,” Glass said.
Glass praised the pilot, who he said “did a great job on the landing.”
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.