A horrifying video shows the moment the engine of a Southwest Airlines Boeing plane rips apart during takeoff, forcing the aircraft to make an emergency landing.
The Boeing 737, which took off from the Denver International Airport on Sunday morning, was scheduled to fly to Houston before the harrowing experience unfolded.
Passengers aboard the plane reported experiencing what felt like a "bomb jolt" as one said she looked out the window and could see the pilots carefully turning around the jet in the air as they made their way back to the airport.
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A horrifying screenshot shows the metal peeling away from the plane's engine, exposing the innards (ABC7)The flight, which took off at approximately 7.45am local time, was destined for Houston. The engine began ripping apart at takeoff, and the flight was turned around about 30 minutes later, according to witness accounts. Videos shot of the scene show the machine's exterior peeling like the lid of a can of sardines, the sheets of metal bolted to the top ripping off like pieces of paper.
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Miraculously, no injuries were reported from the incident after the fire department and EMS arrived on the scene to examine the "mechanical failure" that occurred and ensure the safety of the passengers.
Lisa, the witness who spoke to ABC 7 following the ordeal, said she has pilot experience and commended the pilots of the Boeing 737 for their work turning around the plane and making a safe, full-speed landing.
"I was sitting in was right directly in front of that engine and we all felt a kind of a bomb jolt and I looked out the window because I love window seats and there was, we all lit up our call buttons because they didn't feel it or see it from the pilot's viewpoint," Lisa told the local outlet.
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She added: "I have some pilot experience, and I could tell that they were making maneuvers to very slowly come around because it really seemed like they didn't want to have anything else happen."
In a statement from Southwest Airlines obtained by the outlet, the company said it was "working to get passengers on their way to Houston" after what it referred to as a "mechanical issue." It added that maintenance crews are "reviewing the aircraft."
A statement from the Federal Aviation Administration obtained by KPRC 2 reads: "Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 returned safely to Denver International Airport around 8:15 a.m. local time on Sunday, April 7, after the pilot reported the engine cowling fell off during takeoff and struck the wing flap. The Boeing 737-800 was towed to the gate. The aircraft was headed to William P. Hobby Airport in Houston. The FAA will investigate. Please contact the airline for additional information."
Harrowing cockpit audio released after the incident by a live Air Traffic Control account on X, formerly known as Twitter, shows the pilots calmly speaking with the tower as the emergency unfolds. One can be heard saying: "Let's go ahead and declare an emergency for Southwest 3695. We'd like an immediate return. We've got a piece of engine cowling hanging off, apparently."
The tower responds and tells the pilots to turn left and come back to the Denver airport, to which the pilot responds he's doing as a tinge of relief colours his voice.
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Another witness, Cooper Glass, told the ABC affiliate: "People in the exit row across from me started yelling up to the flight attendants and showed them the damage. We turned around and made a full-speed landing." He commended the pilots for their work getting the craft to safety.
Flight 3695 was towed to the terminal, and passengers were let out. According to the New York Post, the passengers aboard the plane were put on a new one three hours later and arrived at their destination.
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