Passengers Witness Engine Cover Peel Away on Southwest Boeing 737, Forcing Emergency Return To Denver

Passengers Witness Engine Cover Peel Away on Southwest Boeing 737, Forcing Emergency Return To Denver

by Gary Leff on April 7, 2024

This morning Southwest Airlines flight 3695 from Denver to Houston was forced to return to Denver when an engine cowling detached and struck the wing flap of the Boeing 737-800 shortly after takeoff.

The metal covering of one of the engines separated around 8 a.m. local time, after the plane left the ground. Passenger video shows the engine cover peeling away and impacting the aircraft’s wing flap. The plane returned to Denver around 25 minutes after takeoff and was towed to the gate.

Southwest Airlines referred to it as a “mechanical issue” and sent passengers on their way to Houston Hobby airport on an alternate aircraft with a three hour delay. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.

Scary moments for passengers on a Southwest flight from Denver to Houston when the engine cover ripped off during flight , forcing the plane to return to Denver Sunday morning. pic.twitter.com/BBpCBXpTsl

— Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) April 7, 2024

Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 pic.twitter.com/M5fsyAQ2fZ

— Bvrtender (@bvrtender) April 7, 2024

Just after takeoff pic.twitter.com/wVASG4Rr8S

— Bvrtender (@bvrtender) April 7, 2024

Here’s the Southwest flight asking air traffic control for an immediate return to Denver, “We’ve got a piece of engine cowling hanging off, apparently.”

Southwest Airlines flight WN3695 declaring an emergency… pic.twitter.com/PaMFvKKiXY

— Volcaholic (@volcaholic1) April 7, 2024

According to the FAA,

Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 returned safely to Denver International Airport around 8:15 a.m. local time on Sunday, April 7, after the pilot reported the engine cowling fell off during takeoff and struck the wing flap. The Boeing 737-800 was towed to the gate. The aircraft was headed to William P. Hobby Airport in Houston. The FAA will investigate. Please contact the airline for additional information.

Southwest Airlines offered,

Southwest Flight 3695 returned to Denver International Airport this morning and landed safely after experiencing a mechanical issue. We’re working now to get customers on their way to Houston on another aircraft. Our Maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft.

While an incident on board a Boeing 737, this is not a new aircraft where the issue likely points to Boeing, nor another Pratt & Whitney engine issue since Southwest uses CFM56 are well-tested and without the issues we’ve seen with LEAP-1A Airbus engines. In other words, this doesn’t appear to be ‘another Boeing’ or ‘another engine’ issue story.

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