Photo Credit: Maria Falaschi (Feb 13th, 2018)
A United Boeing 777-200, registration N773UA performing flight UA-1175 from San Francisco,CA to Honolulu,HI (USA) with 363 passengers and 10 crew, was enroute at FL360 over the Pacific Ocean about 45 minutes prior to estimated landing in Honolulu when parts of the right hand engine’s (PW4077) separated from the engine. The aircraft continued to Honolulu for a safe landing on runway 08R about 45 minutes later.
Passenger Maria Falaschi reported there was a loud bang about 45 minutes prior to landing followed by the whole aircraft shaking, she saw parts of the engine cowl at the engine inlet missing (and took photos, see above).
The NTSB have dispatched investigators on site and opened an investigation into the occurrence described as “in-flight loss of an engine cowling”.
On Mar 6th 2018 the NTSB reported there had been an inflight separation of a fan blade and subsequent loss of the engine inlet and fan cowls of the right hand engine. Shortly after initiating the descent, at about FL327, the flight crew received a warning of an engine compressor stall, shut down the engine and proceeded to Honolulu without further incident. The aircraft received minor damage. The occurrence was rated an incident and is being investigated by the NTSB.
Article Credit: The Aviation Herald