Southwest flight from Denver makes emergency landing after ‘mechanical issue,’ airline says

A Southwest Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing Sunday morning after the engine cowling came off during takeoff, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Boeing 737-800, which was scheduled to fly from Denver to Houston, landed safely at Denver International Airport just after 8 a.m. and was towed to the gate, according to the airport and airline .

According to the FAA, which is currently investigating the incident, crew members aboard the flight said “the engine cowling fell during takeoff and struck the wing flap.”

In a statement, Southwest Airlines said the flight “landed safely after experiencing a mechanical problem.” Customers have been reassigned to other flights and maintenance teams are currently inspecting the plane, the airline said.

MORE: Alaska Airlines Timeline: How the Missing Door Stopper Incident Happened

Footage taken by some passengers showed what appeared to be part of the plane hanging and being buffeted by the breeze.

“Everything blew up,” one person can be heard saying in a video taken by passenger Lisa C., after which several people on board can be heard bursting into joy as the plane lands again.

The engine cover “came off within the first 10 minutes” of the flight, Lisa C. told ABC News.

“We all felt sort of a shock, a jolt, and I looked out the window because I love window seats, and there it was,” she said.

Another passenger, Cooper Glass, told ABC News the experience was “scary.”

“People in the exit row in front of me started yelling at the flight attendants and showing them the damage,” Glass said.

Glass praised the pilot, who he said “did a great job landing.”

ABC News’ Sam Sweeney, Samira Said and Helena Skinner contributed to this report.

Southwest flight from Denver makes emergency landing after ‘mechanical issue,’ airline says, originally published on abcnews.go.com