Harrowing details emerge of the incident where passenger was partially sucked through plane window

Paul Moore

Breaking.

Updated 20:32, 4 April

The National Transport Safety Bureau (NTSB) is gathering information about an incident involving a Southwest Airlines flight. As reported previously, a Southwest Airlines flight that left LaGuardia en route to Dallas Love Field was forced to make an emergency landing at Philadelphia after one of its engines was severely damaged.

Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel says firefighters responded to an engine fire and fuel leak around 11:10 a.m. Thiel says one passenger died and that 12 other passengers were assessed on the scene. Seven were treated on scene for minor injuries.

Thiel declined to release any additional details on the victim or their condition.

BREAKING: Federal investigator says 1 dead after plane with engine failure makes emergency landing in Philadelphia.

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 17, 2018

In an interview with NBC Philadelphia, Todd Baur gave his daughter-in-law’s eyewitness account of what happened on the plane.

“Thankfully they had just an incredible crew – the pilot and co-pilot were incredible. She’ telling us that there was an EMT and a medic on board, as well as a registered nurse. Apparently, the left engine blew through shrapnel and the shrapnel went into one of the windows. It depressurised the plane immediately and one passenger, a woman, was partially drawn out of the plane and was pulled back inwards by the other passengers. She’s the one who was injured. Our daughter is saying that the medical staff were true heroes. The pilot was incredible on the plane, the flight attendants were amazing. The cabin was completely depressurised, oxygen masks were deployed.”

Regarding the shrapnel, Baur adds more detail to his daughter-in-law’s account. “The engine blew and then a window blew out near the engine. A woman, sitting close to that window, was almost taken out of the aeroplane and had to be taken back in. Fortunately, there were medical staff on board and a couple of people that could administer CPR immediately and they saved her life. In such a traumatic experience, it couldn’t have gone better (medical treatment),” he said.

Here’s his interview in full:

Since the incident occurred, the FAA and Southwest Airlines have released the following statements:

“Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 landed at Philadelphia International Airport this morning after the crew reported damage to one of the aircraft’s engines, as well as the fuselage and at least one window.The aircraft, which departed from New York LaGuardia Airport, diverted to Philadelphia, where it landed at 11:20 a.m. Eastern. Passengers exited the aircraft using air stairs.Please contact local emergency response officials for information on the condition of the passengers. The FAA is investigating the incident and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation.”

Here’s the statement from Southwest Airlines.