Alaska Airlines B739 Engine Cowling detached in flight
 

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.

First 10 minutes of the flight track (up to about FL120) look fairly normal, suggesting that the doors may have stayed closed until then.