Wing at an irregular angle - USA - Curt Lewis

Southwest flight makes emergency landing in San Antonio

The airline said flight 987 was coming from Harlingen headed to Austin

SAN ANTONIO - A Southwest Airlines flight has made an emergency landing in San Antonio after a part on the wing appeared to be at an "irregular angle."

The airline said flight 987 from Austin to Harlingen landed safely in San Antonio with no injuries to the 109 passengers and five crew members just before 5 p.m. Sunday.

Lorenzo Hernandez was on the flight. Hernandez shared his experience on Facebook, calling the flight 'a near death experience.' He said, "I heard a few people to the side of me scream to the aircrew, a piece broke and flew off and a panel was hanging."

Southwest says it has removed the aircraft from service for further inspection.

Hernandez wrote, "I heard a few people to the side of me scream to the aircrew, a piece broke and flew off and a panel was hanging."

The problem part is what is called a "flap track canoe fairing," which is a canoe shaped piece attached to the underside of the wing that reduces drag.

Another aircraft was deployed to fly the passengers on to Harlingen about two hours late.