Boeing 737 engine rips apart during take-off prompting emergency landing. Video

Southwest Airlines attributed the alarming occurrence to a mechanical issue with the Boeing aircraft.

Passengers aboard a routine Southwest Airlines flight bound for Houston, Texas, found themselves engulfed in a nightmare scenario on Sunday when an engine on their Boeing 737-800 seemingly disintegrated mid-flight. The harrowing incident forced an emergency return to Denver after the aircraft's crew observed a significant malfunction during takeoff.

A shocking video shared by ABC’s chief transportation reporter, Sam Sweeney, captured the chilling moment when a section of the engine's cover ripped away, fluttering ominously as the plane struggled against the forces of flight. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) later confirmed that a part of the engine cowling had detached, striking one of the plane's wing flaps.

Southwest Airlines responded to inquiries, attributing the alarming occurrence to a "mechanical issue" with the aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 manufactured in 2017 according to FAA records.

A spokesperson for the airline stated, "Southwest Flight 3695 returned to Denver International Airport this morning and landed safely after experiencing a mechanical issue. Our customers will arrive at Houston Hobby on another aircraft, approximately three hours behind schedule."

Scary moments for passengers on a Southwest flight from Denver to Houston when the engine cover ripped off during flight , forcing the plane to return to Denver Sunday morning. pic.twitter.com/BBpCBXpTsl

— Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) April 7, 2024

Amid the ongoing investigation by the FAA into the incident, concerns over aviation safety have been reignited, amplifying the scrutiny faced by Boeing, which has been punctuated by a series of alarming incidents and controversies.

The mishap follows closely on the heels of a similarly terrifying ordeal involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 Max, which suffered a catastrophic mid-flight blowout earlier this year. With a fuselage panel dislodging at 16,000 feet, the plane narrowly avoided disaster, making an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon. The incident, which resulted in a gaping hole in the cabin, prompted a criminal probe by the Justice Department and a subsequent $1 billion lawsuit.

There have been hundreds of fatal Boeing crashes through history with two crashes in 2018 and 2019 sending the company into a downward spiral.