This time an Airbus

Another plane loses part in mid-air

This time, the incident did not affect the much-maligned company Boeing, but its European competitor Airbus.

(Bild: APA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES/BRUCE BENNETT)

Yet another dangerous incident in aviation: during take-off in Salt Lake City, a Delta Air Lines Airbus aircraft has now lost parts of its engine cowling - adding to the ever-growing list of mishaps in the air.

Following the fatal series of breakdowns by US manufacturer Boeing in recent months, an Airbus A330neo produced in Europe is now affected. As the airline announced on Tuesday (local time), the aircraft landed safely on Sunday after a "reported mechanical problem".

260 passengers got off lightly
The Airbus had taken off from Salt Lake City Airport (USA) in the direction of Amsterdam - a plate behind one of the two engines apparently came loose.

However, the 260 passengers and 13 crew members got off lightly - no one was injured in the incident, the airline emphasized. The passengers were eventually taken to Europe on a replacement aircraft.

This time, the incident did not affect the much-maligned company Boeing, but its European competitor Airbus.

(Bild: APA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES/BRUCE BENNETT)

The US Federal Aviation Administration has documented the incident: A fairing behind the engines of the left wing had come loose on the aircraft, which was only built in 2020. This has no load-bearing function, but merely improves the aerodynamics of the aircraft. Specifically affected was a pylon with which the engine was attached to the wing.

Third incident in just three months in the USA
However, many air travelers are beginning to feel a certain unease about the series of mishaps, as this is now at least the third incident of this kind in the USA alone in the past three months.

At the beginning of January, an Alaska Airlines plane lost a door in mid-air, and in March a United Airlines plane lost a piece of aluminum skin after landing - in both cases, Boeing aircraft were affected.