The engine cover of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 was torn off mid-flight

• A Southwest Airlines plane returned to Denver after the engine cover came off mid-flight.
• The Boeing plane had other malfunctions recently, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct inspections.
• Southwest's maintenance team is reviewing the plane while the Federal Aviation Administration investigates the matter.

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 was forced to turn back mid-flight after an engine cover came off Sunday. This accident was the latest in a series of problems facing Boeing aircraft.

Southwest Airlines told Business Insider in a statement that Flight 3695 returned to Denver International Airport and landed safely after experiencing a “mechanical issue.” The airline said its maintenance team is reviewing the plane.

“Our customers will arrive at Houston Hobby on another plane, approximately three hours behind schedule,” Southwest said in the statement. “We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the delay, but we place the highest priority on the utmost safety of our customers and employees.”

Video of the accident The online post shows part of the plane's engine cowl — a panel covering the engine — pulling away from the plane.

FAA records It indicates that the aircraft was registered in February 2017. This registration expires in 2030.

In January, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after part of the Alaska Airlines fuselage — a seal over what used to be a door — tore off mid-flight.

The FAA said in a statement at the time that each plane must undergo an eight-hour safety inspection before it is allowed to carry passengers again.

Boeing President Steve Mollenkopf has reached out directly to several airlines in the wake of the company's recent difficulties. Bloomberg reported. Mollenkpf's move came after Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said Boeing had shown a “lack of attention to detail”.

“In 2022 and 2023, we found little things like wrenches under the floorboards, and in some cases, seat handles were missing, things like that,” O'Leary said. CNN in March.

The Federal Aviation Administration told Business Insider in a statement that it is investigating the incident. Boeing referred BI to Southwest Airlines when contacted for comment on Sunday.