A United Airlines flight was forced to return shortly after departure on Thursday due to an issue with the engine cover lining. The aircraft, an Airbus SE A320, was en route to Denver but had to return to Hartford airport in Connecticut. Luckily, none of the 124 passengers or five crew members were injured during the incident.
As the plane took off, staff members from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) heard an unusual noise coming from the aircraft. The FAA is currently investigating the cause of this problem. United Airlines reported that a piece of the sound-deadening outer liner fell off during takeoff and was found on the runway when the plane landed.
This year has seen a rise in incidents where aircraft have lost parts shortly after takeoff, with most cases involving Boeing aircraft. In January, a door panel detached from a Boeing 737 MAX during an Alaska Airlines flight. Additionally, a United Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing in March after a Boeing 777 lost a landing gear wheel. Both Boeing and United Airlines are now under scrutiny by the FAA regarding safety procedures and maintenance protocols.
