Alaska Airlines flight returns to Seattle after metal panel detaches from plane
Flight was headed from Seattle to San Diego, California
An Alaska Airlines flight traveling to San Diego returned to Seattle on Monday due to an "unusual vibration" on the left side of the aircraft shortly following departure.
The airline told FOX Business on Tuesday that the cowling — part of the metal paneling that covers the aircraft's engine — on Alaska Airlines Flight 558 detached from the aircraft when it landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
The flight landed safely with no one injured.
There were a total of 176 passengers and six crew members on the flight and customers were rebooked on another flight to their destination.
A Boeing 737-9 aircraft is shown at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on July 28, 2021. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
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"The aircraft, a Boeing 737-900ER, is now temporarily out of service while our safety team investigates," Alaska Airlines said.
The plane's pilots have more than 32 years of combined flying experience.
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The tail of an Alaska Airlines plane. (Sarah A. Miller/Idaho Statesman/Tribune News Service via Getty Images / Getty Images)
"They, along with our flight attendants, handled the incident with tremendous professionalism and care. We also greatly appreciated the patience of our guests during this event," the company noted.