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United Airlines Flight 354 in a Boeing 757-200 landed at the Denver International Airport (DEN) on Monday after a possible flap issue. Video from passengers shows damage to the flaps on one of the wings and the FAA reported that the right-hand side inboard slat broke off during the departure.
The 757 departed the San Francisco International Airport (SFO)and was heading to the Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) when some passengers heard a loud sound as the plane took off, and then noticed the damage on the wing. Passenger Kevin Clarke recorded the damage, telling NBC 10 Boston that the pilot showed up near his seat about 45 minutes into the flight, then returned to the cockpit and announced over the PA that there was damage on one of the front flaps and the plane would divert to Denver for passengers to board a different plane.
"He goes behind me and I was kind of sleepy, so I wasn't paying much attention at that point, but then he goes back to the cockpit and he comes on the PA and says, 'We've discovered we have some damage on one of the front flaps and we're going to divert to Denver and put you all in a different plane,'" Clarke told NBC 10 Boston.
Clarke told Boston 25 News that he saw bird strike forms before boarding the aircraft.
"I'm like bird strike? That's not good," Clarke said to Boston 25 News. "We take off, I heard this loud buzzing noise, and then it faded away so I didn't think much of it, and all of a sudden the pilot is coming back, so I threw my window open, peeked out the window and the whole leading edge of the wing was destroyed."
Another passenger posted a picture of the wing on Reddit, asking users if they should tell a flight crew member.
"Sitting right on the wing and the noise after reaching altitude was much louder than normal," the Reddit user shared. "I opened the window to see the wing looking like this. How panicked should I be? Do I need to tell a flight crew member?"Photos of damage shared by Reddit user @ocotpus_hug
The user shared multiple updated photos as the plane made its diversion, showing the flap moved into position and once it landed safely on the ground.
The FAA said the 757 landed safely at Denver around 5:15 p.m. local time on Monday. According to The Hill, all 165 passengers exited the plane safely and continued the flight to Boston on a different plane, landing roughly three hours later than scheduled. There is no known cause for the damage. RELATED STORIES:Boeing 737 MAX 9 was missing bolts before depressurization eventBoeing CEO admits 'mistake' as FAA launches safety probeLatest on 737 MAX 9 Alaska Airlines emergency - aircraft had prior issues before panel ripped off mid-flightThis incident follows the depressurization event on board a 737 MAX 9 in January where a door plug was blown off the aircraft at 16,000 feet. The FAA grounded the model and has increased its oversight into Boeing production, launching a safety investigation against Boeing and its main supplier, Spirit AeroSystems.
The FAA said it is investigating the incident on United Flight 354.