The midair breakdown of a jet engine that spewed a trail of metal over a Colorado town is putting regulatory focus on the design and strength of engine coverings. Investigators have homed in on a fan blade that had weakened over time and broke off at its base. Concerns about engine coverings also came to the fore after a Southwest Airlines flight in April, 2018, when remnants of engine blades broke off and battered front engine coverings. In all three cases, damaged engine coverings broke off. In that incident, fan blade fragments spiraled forward and engine covering pieces broke off.

Source: Mint February 24, 2021 08:15 UTC