US Plane manufacturer ‘Boeing’ is going through a tough time! From leadership turmoil to coming under fire for prioritising profit over safety, the recent incident that happened on April 7 adds on to the series of incidents where Boeing airplanes have faced Mechanism issues.
Here’s what happened!
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 experienced an incident during takeoff in Denver on Sunday, where an engine cover detached and struck the wing flap. Southwest Flight 3695 bound for Houston aboard, climbed to about 10,300 feet (3,140 m) andreturned safely to Denver International Airport at approximately 8:15 a.m. local time on Sunday, 25 minutes after takeoff and was towed to the gate, The Federal Aviation Administration confirms.
The Boeing aircraft with 135 passengers and six crew members onboard had been headed to Houston, Texas. No injuries were reported. This Incident has prompted an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which adds to a series of safety concerns for Boeing.
Passengers finally reached Houston on another Southwest plane, approximately four hours later than scheduled. Southwest Airlines stated that maintenance teams are currently assessing the affected aircraft.
Why does this keep happening?
A Boeing 737 was forced to make an emergency landing after the components of the engine detached mid-flight.
Just in the past few months alone, we have seen several high-profile incidents with Boeing planes that have required emergency landings.… pic.twitter.com/4khUGe8iJG— The American Tribune (@TAmTrib) April 8, 2024
The 737-800 belongs to the prior generation of the popular 737 series, known as the 737 NG, which was succeeded by the 737 MAX. This particular aircraft, being a 737-800, falls within the category that the troubled 737 MAX series was designed to replace.
"We apologised to those Customers for the inconvenience of their delay and our Maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft. We place our highest priority on ultimate Safety for our Customers and Employees," the airline said in a statement.
According to FAA records, the plane entered service in June 2015. Boeing deferred inquiries to Southwest Airlines.
Engine Issue in Boeing? Not the First Time!
Boeing has faced significant backlash following a string of recent incidents, where a plane has had to make an emergency landing due to mechanical issues. The FAA is investigating several other recent engine issues on Southwest's fleet of Boeing planes.
On April 7, Late Thursday, a Southwest Airlines flight, a Boeing 737 plane, was preparing to depart to Las Vegas from Lubbock, Texas but aborted the takeoff and returned to the gate reported engine fire issues.
Moreover, The FAA is conducting an investigation into a Southwest Airlines 737 flight from March 25, which returned to Austin airport in Texas following a crew report of a potential engine problem.
The FAA is also reviewing a Southwest Airlines 737-800 flight from March 22, which returned to Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida due to an engine issue reported by the crew.
On March 15, Boeing 737-800 landed in Medford, Oregon, with a missing external panel, according to a statement from the airline. No injuries were reported, no emergency was declared, and there were no indications of a problem during the flight. The Federal Aviation Administration has initiated an investigation into the incident.
On January 5, The FAA's decision came after an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 jet experienced a door plug panel blowout, resulting in a hole in the fuselage at an altitude of about 16,000 feet. Investigations revealed missing bolts on the panel following repair work at a Boeing facility. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) then announced that it will temporarily ground some Boeing 737 Max 9 aeroplanes used by U.S. airlines, as well as those operating in U.S. territories.
Also Read: Why has the FAA grounded 171 Boeing planes? (vygrnews.com)
Overall, not going too far in history, these are just a few incidents listed from the year 2024, but aren't these too many since we are only 4 months into 2024? These challenges are compounded by Boeing's leadership shake-up, with CEO Dave Calhoun stepping down, Stan Deal departing, and Steve Mollenkopf taking over as board chair.
Also Read: boeing's rocky ride- the downfall of Boeing 737 max|VYGR (vygrnews.com)
Following all of this, the safety concerns are certainly eyebrow-raising.
Photo Credits: Multiple Agencies
(Inputs from Reuters/ The Guardian)
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