The US FAA is investigating an incident involving a Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-900ER, which lost part of its wing flap during a flight on 1 July.
The aircraft was operating flight DL3247 from Atlanta to Raleigh-Durham when the incident occurred, says the agency.
Delta tells FlightGlobal: ”After the aircraft landed safely, it was observed that a portion of the left wing’s trailing edge flap was not in place.” The aircraft was carrying 109 passengers and six crew.
According to the FAA, the missing part of the wing flap was found in a driveway in Raleigh, North Carolina.
”Delta is fully supporting retrieval efforts and will cooperate with investigations as nothing is more important than safety,” the carrier adds.
Flight tracking data indicates the aircraft involved was N940DU. The 737 entered service in 2012 with Indonesian low-cost carrier Lion Air, and was subsequently handed over to Delta in 2022, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
In 2023, the aircraft – powered by a pair of CFM International CFM56-7B engines – was retrofitted with split scimitar winglets. Delta currently has 162 737-900ERs in operation, Cirium data indicates.
Story updated with statement from Delta.
