Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 Engine Cowling Rips Off During Takeoff From Denver International Airport

Passengers onboard a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 at Denver International Airport (DEN) witnessed a terrifying ordeal on Sunday as the aircraft’s right engine cowling tore off during takeoff and slammed into the wing. The Dallas-based carrier, along with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), are investigating to determine the cause of the incident.

The pilots did not seem fully aware of the situation until flight attendants and passengers reportedly informed them that “a piece of the engine cowling” was “hanging off.” The discovery prompted the crew to initiate an “immediate return” to the airport.

Details about the incident

According to The Aviation Herald, the aircraft, registered as N8668A, was performing WN3695 from DEN to Houston Hobby Airport (HOU). Data from FlightAware shows that the plane pushed back from gate C24 on time at 07:39 and taxied to Runway 25 for a departure to the west. The aircraft was airborne at approximately 07:49 and turned slightly to the south. Two minutes later, and around 5,000 feet above the ground, the plane had halted its climb. It then turned to the east but subsequently started to descend.

Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying

Air traffic control (ATC) recordings obtained from LiveATC.net captured one of the pilots alerting controllers after learning that the passengers and flight attendants heard a loud noise.

“For now everything’s okay. We don’t even know the nature of it, but apparently several passengers and flight attendants heard something loud hit the wing.”

According to Denver local NBC affiliate 9NEWS, the pilot contacted ATC again about a minute later and declared an emergency.

Landing safely

Three minutes later, the pilot can be heard explaining that the situation could not be seen since they were in the cockpit.

“I’m not a 100% sure it was the engine. I think the flaps on the inboard side of the engine… between the engine and the fuselage ripped off on takeoff,” the pilot said. “We don’t actually see it from the cockpit, that’s just what the crew in back is telling us. Our engines seem to be fine, but we are structurally damaged.”

The aircraft landed safely on Runway 34L at 08:14 – 25 minutes after it took off. Video from a passenger onboard shows the plane touching down with the engine sustaining the damage.

According to the FAA, the aircraft was towed to its gate upon arrival. The agency confirmed the incident to Simple Flying on Sunday.

“Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 returned safely to Denver International airport around 8:15 a.m. local time on Sunday, April 7, after the crew 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.”

Three-hour delay

A Southwest spokesperson also confirmed, saying the plane “landed safely after experiencing a mechanical issue.” The airline deployed a replacement aircraft to continue WN3695, according to The Aviation Herald. The aircraft, another 737-800, registered as N8523W, departed DEN at 10:41 and arrived at HOU at 14:09, resulting in a delay of three hours.

A similar but rather more severe incident occurred in 2021 as the entire engine cowling ripped off a United Airlines 777-200 after departing from DEN. The aircraft was the fifth 777 ever built.