In a harrowing incident on Sunday, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 was forced to make an emergency landing at Denver International Airport after a part of its engine tore away during takeoff, according to Federal Aviation Association officials.
The flight, bound for Houston, was abruptly interrupted when the engine's cowling peeled back, flew off, and struck the aircraft's wing flap as it was lifting off the ground. The incident was captured in a video by a passenger on flight 3695, which has since been circulated widely.
One passenger described the experience as "frightening," recounting how fellow travelers in the exit row began alerting flight attendants to the damage. "We turned around and made a full-speed landing. The pilots did a great job on the landing," the passenger said.
Following the emergency landing, which took place around 8:15 a.m., the Boeing 737-800 was towed back to the gate. All passengers were checked and cleared by the local fire department before boarding another plane to Houston's William P. Hobby Airport. The rescheduled flight was estimated to arrive in Houston at 1:55 p.m.
This incident comes on the heels of another aviation mishap at the same airport, where a private plane's landing gear collapsed upon arrival on Thursday afternoon. The Houston Airport System confirmed the incident.
The Federal Aviation Association has launched an investigation into the Southwest Airlines incident. As the probe continues, passengers and aviation experts alike will be keenly awaiting the findings, which will shed light on the safety of the aircraft involved.
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