Delta Boeing 737-800 investigated after wing flap partially detaches midair on flight to Texas | VIDEO

Texas: The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation after a wing flap on a Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-800 aircraft partially detached while in flight en route to Texas on August 19.

Delta Flight 1893 was travelling from Orlando International Airport to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport when passengers noticed part of the left wing’s flap had come loose as the aircraft began its descent into Austin.

“We felt it was bad turbulence. The plane was shaking,” passenger Shanila Arif told CNN.

“The lady in front of us opened the window and told us it is broken. I opened the window and got scared.”

Arif recorded a video showing the damaged flap dangling from the rear of the wing while the aircraft was flying at high speed thousands of feet in the air. She said she feared the loose part could strike the tail of the aircraft and cause a crash.

Despite the midair malfunction, the plane landed safely in Austin at around 2:30 pm local time, having departed Orlando shortly before 1:00 pm, according to FlightAware data. A total of 62 passengers and six crew members were on board. No injuries were reported.

Following the incident, Delta confirmed that “a portion of the left wing’s flap was not in place” and announced that the aircraft had been taken out of service for maintenance. Two scheduled flights for August 20 were cancelled as a result.

Flaps are located on the trailing edge of an aircraft’s wings and are deployed during takeoff and landing to increase lift and improve control.

In a statement, Delta said: “We apologize to our customers for their experience as nothing is more important than the safety of our people and customers.” The airline added that it is fully cooperating with the FAA’s investigation.