By Martin Weil and Clarence Williams
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, March 23, 2008

A small part of a wing of a US Airways jetliner dislodged and struck a passenger window yesterday as the airplane was apparently over Maryland, officials said.

No injuries were reported, and the Boeing 757 twin-jet airliner landed safely and without incident at Philadelphia International Airport, the airline said.

The incident occurred during a flight from Orlando to Philadelphia, with 174 passengers and six crew members aboard, according to US Airways.

The plane, operated as Flight 1250, was scheduled to leave at 7:50 a.m. and arrive at 10:17 a.m.

The airline asked the fire department in at least one of the jurisdictions that the plane flew over to be on the lookout for the 17.5-square-inch panel.

The Anne Arundel County Fire Department received a fax from the airline's security office asking to be notified if the panel was found.

Fire department Division Chief Michael Cox said the airline identified the object as a piece of wing cover. It was described as 5 by 3 1/2 inches. Cox said the message indicated that it was thought the panel might have fallen somewhere in Prince George's or Anne Arundel counties or near Kent Island.

US Airways said the piece was made of composite material and fell from the left wing. The airline said it had taken the plane out of service and was investigating.

With 193 seats, the plane was nearly full. It was not immediately clear whether anyone was sitting at the window that was struck.