The damage apparently occurred during the takeoff of Flight 1359 from Phoenix to Newark. The flight took off shortly after leaving the gate at 10:05 a.m.
Dan Landson, a Southwest spokesman, said the plane stayed in the air to burn fuel and landed safely at Sky Harbor just before 1:30 p.m.
The plane was towed to a different gate upon landing, and the 135 passengers and five crew members aboard changed planes, Landson said.
