UPDATE:
A Southwest jet engine failed on a LaGuardia to Dallas-bound flight, resulting in a moment of sheer terror in the sky. There was one fatality after a piece of the engine crashed into a window, “violently depressurizing” the cabin and reportedly “sucking” a passenger through a window who was then pulled back into the airplane.
… The harrowing communications between the aircraft and the air traffic control tower have been released. The pilot, Tammie Jo Shults, is a hero. With a big piece of the aircraft missing, she managed to guide the plane to the ground in Philadelphia, saving scores of lives. 144 passengers and five crew members were onboard.
A Southwest Airlines plane bound for Dallas made a successful emergency landing in Philadelphia after suffering severe engine damage. According to witnesses on the plane, part of the engine broke off and shattered a window causing the cabin to depressurize. One woman was partially sucked out of the window, but other passengers pulled her back to safety. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition and pronounced dead. A passenger said they saw them use a defibrillator on her and may have suffered a heart attack .
“One passenger, a woman, was partially … was drawn out towards the out of the plane … was pulled back in by other passengers," he said in a phone interview with NBC10.
The plane landed safely at Philadelphia International Airport around 11:30 am local time. Southwest Airlines issued a statement about the incident.
Southwest Airlines flight 1380, which departed LaGuardia for Dallas Love Field (DAL) , diverted to PHL because of an operational event. The plane landed safely. No slides were deployed. At this time, passengers are coming down a mobile stairway and are being bussed to the terminal. PHL Flights continue to arrive and depart but passengers should expect delays.
One passenger posted a photo of the damaged engine to Twitter.
@SouthwestAir I want to thank the crew of SWA 1380 for a great job getting us to the ground safely after losing in engine #angelsinthesky