The FAA Is Investigating Yet Another Boeing Safety Incident

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has opened yet another investigation into an incident involving a Boeing jet.

The FAA is investigating why an engine cover on a Boeing 737-800 fell off a Houston-bound Southwest Airlines flight in Denver on Sunday morning. The cover struck a wing flap and the flight returned to Denver International Airport before being towed to the gate.

The wing flap was captured by a passenger onboard and the video was posted on Sunday:

While Southwest’s teams are looking into the incident, so are officials at the FAA, which has been tasked with investigating seemingly regular incidents with Boeing aircraft.

“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 FAA will investigate,” the FAA said in a statement shortly after Sunday’s flight  

The most notable of those incidents was the Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 jet that landed after a door plug panel tore off in January. That incident caused the FAA to ground all MAX 9 jets for several weeks. But that was far from the only incident for Boeing.

According to FOX, airlines flying Boeing jets have had to divert to Denver at least four times so far in 2024 alone, including most recently on March 29 when a United flight from San Francisco to Paris landed in Denver because of engine issues.

And, according to Reuters, the FAA is also investigating several issues with Southwest’s Boeing fleet, including three different incidents in March alone.