Boeing 737-800 Emergency Landing: What Happened and What It Means for Boeing’s Safety Record

A Boeing 737-800 plane operated by Southwest Airlines had to make an emergency return to Denver International Airport after an engine cover fell off and hit the wing flap. The Federal Aviation Administration stated that they will be launching an investigation into the incident.

Southwest Airlines informed CNN that all passengers boarded another plane to Houston and would be around three hours delayed. They emphasized that safety for their customers and employees is their top priority, apologizing for any inconvenience caused by the delay.

The air traffic control audio recording revealed that one of the pilots mentioned that both passengers and flight attendants heard a loud noise when something hit the wing. Southwest Airlines reported that their maintenance teams would be examining the aircraft that departed at 7:49 a.m. and returned just a short while later at 8:15 a.m., having reached an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet. The FAA records show that the plane was declared airworthy back in May of 2015.

Boeing refused to comment and directed all inquiries to Southwest regarding aircraft and fleet operations. This incident adds to the series of mechanical problems faced by various airlines operating Boeing aircraft in recent months, bringing more attention to Boeing’s safety record.