FAA investigates Southwest Boeing 737-800 engine cowling losses By Reuters

David Shepherdson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said on Sunday it would investigate after the engine cowling of a Southwest Airlines (NYSE:) Boeing (NYSE:) 737-800 fell off and struck a wing flap during takeoff from Denver.

Southwest Flight 3695 returned safely to Denver International Airport around 8:15 a.m. local time Sunday and was towed to the gate. The Boeing aircraft, carrying 135 passengers and six crew members, was headed to Houston William P. Hobby Airport.

No one was injured.

Southwest said it would put passengers on another flight to Houston about three hours later than scheduled. Southwest said its maintenance team is reviewing the aircraft.

FAA records show the plane entered service in early 2017. Boeing referred questions to Southwest for information about the airline’s fleet and fleet operations.

The airline declined to say when the plane’s engines were last serviced.

ABS News posted a video to social media platform X showing a torn engine cover flapping in the wind and a torn Southwest logo.

Boeing has come under intense criticism since a door plug panel on a new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 jet broke at 16,000 feet on Jan. 5.

In the aftermath of the incident, the FAA grounded the MAX 9 in service for several weeks, banned Boeing from increasing MAX production rates, and ordered it to develop a comprehensive plan to address “systemic quality control issues” within 90 days.

Boeing’s production has fallen below the maximum of 38 units per month allowed by the FAA. The Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into the MAX9 incident.

The 737-800 is the previous generation of MAX’s current best-selling 737.