Originally Posted by
MartinB738
CNN is reporting that Alaska flight 588 from Seattle had to return after an engine cowling 'popped open mid flight' on the 737-900ER. It happened on 22 August, and the cowling had detached by the time it landed. There are passenger videos showing the cowling open and detaching in flight.
Martin
I guess it's a question of whether they took off with the cowl doors hanging down, but didn't spot they were unlatched during the walk-around, eg after maintenance... That has happened before, eg the BA A319 at LHR in 2013.
Or if they just came unlatched in flight - which thinking about it I can't recall happening...
it's interesting how they peeled off during the landing, the airflow must have changed direction with the ground effect perhaps - or they used the thrust reversers (surely not!). They certainly looked flimsy as they did.