The Federal Aviation Administration reported that a Southwest Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing on Sunday morning when the engine cover separated after takeoff.
The Boeing 737-800, which was scheduled to fly from Denver to Houston, landed safely at Denver International Airport shortly after 8:00 a.m. and was towed to the gate, according to the airport and airline.
According to the FAA, which is now investigating the incident, crew members aboard the flight reported that “the engine cowling fell off during takeoff and struck the wing flap.”
Southwest Airlines stated that the airplane “landed safely after experiencing a mechanical issue.” Customers have been rebooked on other flights, and maintenance personnel are currently assessing the aircraft, according to the airline.
Some passengers captured footage of what seemed to be a portion of the plane hanging off and fluttering in the breeze.
“It all blew away,” one person can be heard saying in a video filmed by passenger Lisa C., before several people on board break out in cheers when the plane lands again.
Lisa C. informed ABC News that the engine cowling “peeled off within the first 10 minutes” of the flight.
“We all felt kind of a bump, a jolt, and I looked out the window because I love window seats, and there it was,” she went on to say.
Another passenger, Cooper Glass, told ABC News that the encounter was “frightening.”
“People in the exit row across from me started yelling up to the flight attendants and showed them the damage,” he added.
Glass hailed the pilot, saying he “did a great job on landing.”