Engine Cover Falls Off During US Plane's Takeoff
A Boeing 737 was forced to return to Denver airport after its engine cover fell off and struck a wing flap during takeoff on April 7, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The Southwest Airlines jet landed safely and the passengers, who were traveling to Houston in Texas, were put onto another aircraft, the airline said.
"We apologize for the inconvenience of their delay," Southwest Airlines said, but it added that the safety of its customers and employees was the highest priority.
It said that maintenance teams were reviewing the aircraft.
It's the second safety incident in a week for the airline, with a flight from Texas canceled the previous Thursday after a report of an engine fire.
The fire department confirmed online there was a fire in one of the two engines that needed extinguishing.
The FAA is investigating both incidents. Both planes were Boeing 737-800s, an older model than the 737 Max.
But it's not only Southwest Airlines that has been dealing with flight issues this year.
Another US carrier, United Airlines, has been investigated by the FAA after a series of safety incidents in March.
CBS News reported that the FAA was considering temporary action against the company as a result.
Late in March, a plane traveling from San Francisco to Paris was forced to land in Denver after an engine issue.
Earlier in the month, a tire fell off a United Airlines jet during takeoff, landing in an employee car park at San Francisco airport and damaging two vehicles.
The plane was able to land safely and no-one was hurt in this incident, or in any of these incidents.
A day later a plane had to make an emergency landing in Los Angeles, while another aircraft in Florida had to immediately return to Bush Intercontinental Airport after an engine fire.
