An Airbus A320 with 110 people on board was forced to make an emergency landing on 13 July when the left engine cowling became detached immediately after take-off from Atlanta Hartsfield airport, Georgia, USA. Cabin crew alerted the captain, who declared an emergency and returned safely to Atlanta following the incident, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report.
The A320 was being operated by Ryan International Airlines for AirTran Airways when the cowling flew off, bending an engine mount as well as puncturing and denting the left outboard leading edge slat.
The flightcrew reported an amber oil quantity alert before the A320 (N951LF) - an International Aero Engines V2500-powered version - landed safely at Atlanta. Police reported finding the cowling on a dirt road 14km (9 miles) west south west of Hartsfield.
Source: Flight International
