Boeing Co (NYSE:BA, ETR:BCO) is facing more turbulence after an engine cover on a plane came loose shortly after take off.
Passenger videos showed the engine cover flipped upwards and resting on the wing flap while the Boeing 737-800 aircraft was in mid-air.
The incident occurred on a Southwest Airlines flight travelling on Sunday from Denver with 135 passengers and six crew members.
@SouthwestAir Flight 3695. Thanks for the heart attack this morning! pic.twitter.com/IMbokjLcNU
— Cooper Glass (@coopatroopa6) April 7, 2024
At an altitude of 3,140m, the plane was forced to make a U-turn back to the airport, 25 minutes into the journey.
Nobody on the flight was injured and the plane landed safely before being towed back to the gate, while passengers were placed on an alternative plane heading to Houston, albeit four hours later.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it will launch an investigation into what happened, adding to the growing list of regulatory scrutiny facing Boeing.
"We apologise for the inconvenience of their delay, but place our highest priority on ultimate safety for our customers and employees. Our maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft," Southwest Airlines said in a statement.