An engine powering Southwest Airlines’ Boeing 737-700 aircraft has exploded in mid-air and killed one passenger on-board the flight.
Seven other passengers sustained minor injuries in the incident that occurred nearly 20 minutes into the flight on 17 April, reported nytimes.com.
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The explosion resulted in damage to the aircraft fuselage and smashed a window that partially pulled the victim out of the plane.
The victim was later identified as Jennifer Riordan, a mother of two and an employee at Wells Fargo in New Mexico, US, reported cbsnews.com.
At the time of the incident, the Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 was travelling from New York’s LaGuardia (LGA) to Dallas Love Field (DAL) airport, carrying 144 passengers and five crew members.
The two-engine aircraft made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) in the US.
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By GlobalDataConfirming the incident, Southwest Airlines said in a statement: “Southwest Airlines officials are in direct contact with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration to support an immediate, coordinated response to this accident.
“Southwest is in the process of gathering additional information regarding flight 1380 and will fully cooperate in an investigative process.”
A preliminary investigation conducted by NTSB revealed that one of 24 fan blades was missing from the failed engine.
According to NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt, evidence of metal weakness was also present where the blade attached to its hub.
Boeing has deployed a technical team to assist NTSB in its investigation.
