- A Southwest Airlines plane was forced to return to Denver after its engine cover tore during flight.
- The plane, manufactured by Boeing, has had other problems recently, prompting an FAA inspection.
- While the FAA investigates, Southwest Airlines' maintenance team is reviewing the plane.
A Boeing 737 operated by Southwest Airlines had to turn back mid-flight Sunday after its engine cover came off. It was the latest in a series of problems with Boeing planes.
Southwest Airlines told Business Insider in a statement that Flight 3695 returned to Denver International Airport and landed safely after experiencing a “mechanical issue.” The airline said its maintenance team was examining the aircraft.
“Customers will arrive at Houston Hobby on a different aircraft approximately three hours later than scheduled,” Southwest Airlines said in a statement. “We apologize for any inconvenience this delay may cause, but the ultimate safety of our customers and employees is our top priority.”
video of the incident Photos shared online showed part of the plane's engine cowling torn from the fuselage.
FAA records show the plane was registered in February 2017, and its registration expires in 2030.
In January, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after part of an Alaska Airlines plane, a plug that was previously a door, was torn off mid-flight.
The FAA said in a statement at the time that each aircraft must undergo an eight-hour safety inspection before being allowed to carry passengers again.
Bloomberg reports that Boeing Chairman Steve Mollenkopf has reached out directly to several airlines following the company's recent woes. Molenkupf's move comes after Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said there was a “lack of attention to detail” at Boeing.
“In 2022 and 2023, we found little things like spanners under the floorboards and in some cases seat handles missing,” O'Leary told CNN in March. Ta.
The FAA told Business Insider it is investigating the incident. Boeing referred BI to Southwest Airlines when asked for comment Sunday.
The Alaska Airlines explosion in January led to increased scrutiny of Boeing's quality control in the months that followed.
In response to the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration announced it would investigate Boeing's manufacturing process.
In March, the FAA said its investigation found “multiple instances of companies allegedly failing to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements.” The agency also found 27 deficiencies in Boeing's safety procedures.
Following the Alaska Airlines incident, several key Boeing executives, including CEO Dave Calhoun, announced they would resign.
In a press release, the plane maker also vowed to increase inspections on production lines and change quality practices.
