No one was hurt, but federal officials are now investigating how the Boeing 737-900ER completed its journey from Atlanta with a chunk of its left wing missing.
The 12-year-old aircraft was carrying 109 passengers and six crew members, according to Delta. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, the airline said in a statement sent to news outlets.
The flight landed about 55 minutes behind schedule, according to information from FlightAware, with Delta attributing the delay to thunderstorms in the area.
After the aircraft arrived at the gate, a post-flight inspection revealed that a portion of the left wing’s trailing edge flap was not in place, Delta said.
The FAA later confirmed that a part found on a driveway in Raleigh was determined to be from the same aircraft, and the agency has launched an investigation into the incident.
“After the aircraft landed safely, it was observed that a portion of the left wing's trailing edge flap was not in place. Delta is fully supporting retrieval efforts and will cooperate with investigations as nothing is more important than safety,” a Delta spokesperson said in a statement.
The airline said it is working closely with authorities to retrieve the missing part and to support the ongoing investigation.
The Airbus A321, carrying 153 passengers and six crew, landed safely and all occupants deplaned without incident, according to American Airlines.
In that case, the airline said, “The aircraft taxied to the gate under its own power and customers deplaned normally.” American Airlines added, “We appreciate the professionalism of our crew and thank our team who are working to get our customers to their destinations as quickly as possible.”
The FAA is continuing its investigation into the cause of the engine smoke and any contributing factors.