By Summer Concepcion and Cheyenne Darcy Amaya —
NBC News
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported this Sunday that it will open an investigation after the cover of one of the engines of a Southwest Airlines plane
detached during takeoff in Denver (Colorado) and hit a wing of the aircraft.
The engine cover that broke off during Southwest Airlines Flight 3695, April 7, 2024. Cooper Glass
Southwest Airlines Flight
3695
returned safely to Denver International Airport around 8:15 a.m. (local time) on Sunday after the pilot reported the incident, the FAA explained.
The plane was headed to William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas.
Southwest Airlines said in a statement that it was working to allow passengers to travel to Houston on another plane after Flight 3695 landed safely in Denver.
He added that
His maintenance workers were checking the aircraft.
This is the second incident in recent days involving a part malfunction on a Southwest Airlines flight. The FAA is investigating an engine fire that occurred last Thursday before takeoff at Preston Smith International Airport in Lubbock, Texas.