WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The engine cowling of a Southwest Airlines (NYSE:) Boeing (NYSE:) 737-800 fell during takeoff in Denver on Sunday and struck a wing flap, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to open an investigation.
Here’s what we know about the incident so far.
WHAT IS AN ENGINE HOOD COVER?
An engine cowling is a protective covering that houses an aircraft engine, made of metal or composite material. The cowling is part of a nacelle that is separate from the fuselage and houses the engine and other equipment such as fuel tanks or electrical systems.
An engine hood reduces drag, increases speed and smoothes airflow, providing better engine cooling and protecting engine controls. Hoods must be resistant to extreme temperatures and strong vibrations.
WHAT DID THE SOUTHWEST SAY?
Southwest Flight 3695 returned to Denver International Airport and landed safely after experiencing a mechanical problem, the company said. “We apologize for the inconvenience caused by their delay, but our priority is to ensure the utmost safety of our customers and staff. Our maintenance teams are inspecting the aircraft,” Southwest said in a statement.
WHY DID THE ENGINE HOOD COVER FALL AWAY?
We don’t know why this particular cover fell off.
The Seattle Times reported in 2022 that there have been dozens of similar crashes involving 737s and Airbus A320s over the past three decades, but none resulted in injuries. The newspaper said nearly every cowling incident involved maintenance errors related to a fan cowl door latch failure missed during pre-flight inspections.
Airbus said it has developed several additional devices to prevent incidents, including improving fan shroud locks and adding sensors.
WHAT ELSE HAS FELL FROM A PLANE RECENTLY?
In January, a door trim on Alaska Airlines’ new Boeing 737 MAX 9 fell off in mid-air. The National Transportation Safety Board said four key bolts did not appear to be installed when the plane left Boeing’s plant.
Last month, the FAA said it was investigating how a United Airlines Boeing 737-800 lost an external panel before landing safely in Oregon on Friday. The FAA said an inspection of the 25-year-old plane after landing found a panel was missing.
These incidents do not appear to be related to the hood issue.
IS IT SAFE TO FLY?
The last fatal crash of a US passenger airliner occurred in February 2009 – more than 15 years ago. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said last week that air travel is “the safest form of travel in America.”
WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
The FAA will conduct interviews and review maintenance records to determine what went wrong. The FAA can take enforcement action or impose fines on airlines that do not comply with safety regulations.