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| SOUTHWEST B737-7H4 N462WN (CN 32466) Photo Judy Berry |
This story, which is developing as I type, is seriously unbelievable.
An engine on a Southwest Airlines B737 exploded inflight, particles smashed through a window, a passenger was partially sucked out and passengers feared for their lives. Southwest flight WN1380; enroute from New York-La Guardia Airport, NY (LGA / KLGA) to Dallas-Love Field, TX (DAL / KDAL); departed New York at 9.43am local time and had just reached it cruising altitude of 320, then at 10.04am the aircraft shuddered and the No.1 engine exploded sending particles smashing through a window. The female passenger sitting in that seat was partially sucked out of the window and passengers around her grad hold and held her tight, before bringing her back in. Reports I can find read other passengers started first aid including CPR on the lady. As oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling people were writing notes to loved ones as they feared they were going to die. The plane was traveling around 500 mph when the incident happened and descended by more than 3,000 feet per minute until the pilots levelled out around 10,000 feet. There were 143 passengers and 5 crew on board.
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-7H4 and the registration was N772SW, this aircraft being 17 yrs old had its first flight on 26th June 2000 and was handed over to Southwest on the 7th July 2000. The engine on this aircraft was CFMI CFM56-7B24. The CFM International CFM56 series is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by CFM International, with a thrust range of 18,500 to 34,000 pounds. The pilots declared an emergency and executing an emergency descent they diverted to Philadelphia airport (PHL / KPHL) were it landed at 10.19am. As the aircraft landed in Philadelphia the first responders noticed fuel was leaking from the wing. As they were coming in for landing the cabin crew were yelling "brace for landing" "brace for landing" over and over again a report said. This is the very first incident for Southwest Airlines and the first death inflight in the United States since 2009.
It has since been reported the lady involved in the incident has died of her injuries.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the immediate family and friends and to all the passengers on board flight 1380, also thoughts go out to the Southwest staff.
Aircraft Information
Aircraft: Boeing 737-7H4
Engines: CFMI CFM56-7B24
Operator: Southwest Airlines
Flight Number: WN 1380
Registration: N772SW
Serial Number: 27880
First Flew: 26/06/2000
Age: 17 Years / 8 months
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