Alaska Airlines flight’s engine cover comes off mid-air, makes emergency landing; video goes viral
The incident took place shortly after the San Diego-bound plane carrying more than 170 people, including crew members, took off from Seattle. The flight was then diverted back to Seattle. The video clip was shot by a passenger from the window of the plane.
FollowOne of the engine covers of an Alaska Airlines flight tore off mid-flight, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing and circle around. A portion of the flight's detachable metal engine cowling, which is seen in a video that was extensively shared on social media, was seen peeling off and swinging in the wind.
The incident happened not long after the Seattle-bound aircraft carrying more than 170 people—including crew members—to San Diego took off. The plane then made a U-turn and headed back to Seattle. Shortly after the Alaska Airlines aircraft from Seattle to San Diego took off, a piece of the cowling, a detachable metal casing for the engine, ripped off, exposing the interiors.
The video clip appears to have been taken from an aeroplane window by a passenger. The passenger added, "We survived," while sharing the clip.
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Alaska Airlines provided a statement to media that read: "Soon after takeoff, Flight 558 noticed an odd vibration on the left side of the aircraft. The aircraft made a safe return to the airport."
The 176 passengers and six crew members on board were uninjured, according to the airlines.
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However, the aircraft was grounded, so the passengers were transferred to a another trip to San Diego. A safety team has launched an inquiry to identify the root of the problem. The two pilots flying the flight have a total experience of more than 32 years, according to the airline.
