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In reply to the discussion: Boeing plane part falls off, strikes wing flap during takeoff in Denver [View all]In the process of flapping around in the air stream until they detached and fell away (to be a hazard to those on the ground), they could damage other parts of the aircraft.
That could be components on the engine itself such as hydraulic pumps, generators, bleed air ducts, electrical wiring, etc. Those are all components that are meant to be protected from the elements by the engine cowling. If the cowling is thrashing about in the wind instead of cleanly separating from the aircraft (as parts of it did here), then damage could occur.
Off the top of my head other things that could be damaged if it hit the wrong spot would be: Leading edge slats, trailing edge flaps and the horizontal tail surfaces.
All the things I mentioned, more likely than not, wouldn't happen. But... they could. Which is why the pilots declare an emergency and get it back on the ground ASAP. Loss of a hydraulic pump or generator or bleed air from the engines would result in warning lights in the cockpit, so the crew would know. Damage to flight control surfaces could cause problems in handling the aircraft or the crew might not even notice there is damage until they get it on the ground and do a visual inspection.
Lots of wild ass scenarios and not enough hard answers, there is just too much chaos theory.