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The American aviation agency FAA has opened an investigation after a Boeing 737 of the American airline Southwest reported “an incident with the engine” just before takeoff in Texas on Thursday evening.
“Southwest Airlines Flight 1928 was canceled and the aircraft returned to the Lubbock Preston Smith Airport terminal in Texas after the crew reported engine problems,” the FAA said.
The plane was bound for Harry Reid Airport in Las Vegas. Southwest stated that the flight with the 737-800 NG, an older version of the 737-MAX, was aborted safely and that the 154 passengers were taken to Las Vegas on another aircraft.
According to a recording of the conversations between the control tower and the cockpit, the pilot reported “overheating of the brakes” and “a fire in the left engine” while taxiing to the runway.
Boeing has had to deal with a series of incidents in recent months. For example, in January a panel broke off the fuselage shortly after takeoff of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-MAX. Since then, more devices with technical defects have been discovered.