New York, United States

Airline regulators in the United States have started investigating another mishap involving a Boeing jet after an engine cowling in one of its jets fell off during take-off and hit a wing flap.

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After the mishap, Southwest Airlines' Boeing 737-800 flight, which was flying to Houston, flew back safely to Denver International airport at around 15:15 GMT. 

There were 135 passengers and six crew members in the aircraft and the flight was at about 10,300 feet (3,140m). The mishap took place amid increasing safety concerns with Boeing jets.

Southwest Airlines said it will be reviewing the Boeing 737-800 following the incident. The airline said that it was responsible for the maintenance of such parts. All the passengers were shifted to another jet and arrived in Houston approximately after a delay of four hours.

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Also Read: Boeing nightmare continues, lavatory sink floods Alaska Airlines plane cabin mid-air

"We apologise for the inconvenience of their delay, but place our highest priority on ultimate safety for our customers and employees," said the airline, in a a statement.

As per the records of the regulator Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the plane was manufactured in 2015. The Federal Aviation Administration, in a statement, said that a part of the aircraft, known as engine cowling, got detached and hit one of the wing flaps of the plane. 

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Passengers record 'horror' moment mid-flight 

The passengers inside the Southwest Airlines flight, which was bound for Houston, watched the horrific moment.

Watch: Boeing CEO to step down, but what about passenger safety?

The flight immediately came back to Denver after its crew members saw a removable sheet of metal, which was covering one of the engines of the plane, ripped out during takeoff.

In the terrifying footage shared on X, the metal engine cover was seen whipping in the strong winds like paper.

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Boeing has remained under scrutiny after a dramatic mid-air blowout of a door panel in January in which passengers on a flight from Portland to California had a narrow escape and some even suffered serious injuries.

(With inputs from agencies)