On August 15, 2023, Southwest Airlines flight #WN307 from Houston to Cancun experienced an engine incident shortly after takeoff. The right engine of the Boeing 737-700, operated by a CFM engine, began to emit flames. The crew quickly shut down the engine and returned to Houston Hobby Airport for a safe landing on runway 04, about 15 minutes after departure.
2006 built Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7BD aircraft (N7737E) fitted with CFM56-7B24 engines made an air turnback to William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) due to the malfunction on its Right engine, as it started spitting flames.
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) August 16, 2023
📹 KHOU 11 News Houston#aircraft #aviation #safety pic.twitter.com/xLuKgVt1rM
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Southwest Airlines released a statement saying that the plane was taken out of service for review after safely landing. No injuries were reported from the incident. Videos circulating online show the engine bursting into flames midair, with footage from the ground and from passengers on board the plane. The cause of the engine failure is currently unknown. It is not clear if an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board will be initiated.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety in air travel. While accidents and injuries remain extremely rare, it is crucial that airlines and regulatory bodies continue to prioritize safety and take all necessary precautions to prevent incidents like this from occurring.
In conclusion, Southwest Airlines flight #WN307 experienced an engine incident shortly after takeoff on August 15, 2023. The crew acted quickly to shut down the engine and return to Houston Hobby Airport for a safe landing. No injuries were reported and the cause of the engine failure is currently unknown. This incident highlights the importance of safety in air travel and the need for continued vigilance by airlines and regulatory bodies.