One dead after jet engine ‘explosion’
CATASTROPHIC engine failure on a Southwest Airlines flight from New York to Dallas killed one person and forced an emergency landing Tuesday, the first fatal incident in US commercial aviation for nearly a decade.
The Boeing 737-700 took off without incident but minutes into the flight, passengers heard an explosion in the left engine, which sent shrapnel flying through the window, shattering the glass and leading oxygen masks to drop, witnesses said.
“We believe there were parts coming out of this engine,” Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, told a news conference, confirming engine failure but no fire. “There is one fatality,” Mr Sumwalt said.
US media said seven people were slightly injured. The identity of the dead person was not immediately disclosed.
Southwest Airlines said Flight 1380 had been en route from New York’s LaGuardia domestic airport to Dallas Love Field with 144 passengers and five crew onboard.
It landed at Philadelphia International Airport at 11:20am after the crew reported damage to one of the engines, the fuselage and at least one window, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
“The entire Southwest Airlines family is devastated and extends its deepest, heartfelt sympathy to the customers,
employees, family members, and loved ones affected by this tragic event,” the company said in a statement.
NBC News released a recording of what it identified as communications between air traffic control in Philadelphia and the pilot, giving dramatic insight into what witnesses called a terrifying flight.
“We have a part of the aircraft
missing, so we’re going to need to slow down a bit,” said a woman, who appeared to be the pilot. “Use caution for the downtown area,” replies air traffic control.
“Could you have the medical meet us there on the runway as well? We’ve got injured passengers,” says the voice from the plane.
“Is your airplane physically
on fire?” asks air traffic control. “No, it’s not on fire but part of it’s missing. They said there is a hole and someone went out,” the pilot replies.
“Something is wrong with our plane! It appears we are going down!” wrote passenger Marty Martinez on a Facebook live-stream that showed him looking panicked and breathing through an oxygen mask.
“Engine exploded in the air and blew open window 3 seats away from me. Explosion critically injured woman sitting in the seat next to the window,” he added.
Shrapnel blew out a window in row 17, injuring the woman and leading to the deployment of the oxygen masks. The woman was later stretchered off the plane, he said.