Southwest plane makes emergency landing after engine blows out
- 8 years ago
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA — Southwest Airlines flight 3472 was diverted to Pensacola, Florida after one of its engines malfunctioned mid-flight.
WESH reports that the Boeing 737 was flying from New Orleans to Orlando on Saturday morning when a loud explosion was heard erupting from the left engine.
The aircraft tilted heavily to one side, and the plane began shaking. Passengers peering out the window reportedly saw smoke coming from the ruined engine, and “metal parts flapping in the wind,” according to KOCO.
Oxygen masks were deployed inside the cabin as the plane descended rapidly — dropping 20,000 feet in less than 10 minutes. Startled passengers were crying and screaming, but the crew remained calm and announced that the plane was going to be diverted.
Pilots soon managed to stabilize the plane, and the Boeing 737 aircraft made an emergency landing at Pensacola International Airport minutes later. The 99 passengers and five crew members disembarked safely, with no reported injuries.
Southwest Airlines has yet to specify what caused the engine failure, but is working with the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board to investigate.
WESH reports that the Boeing 737 was flying from New Orleans to Orlando on Saturday morning when a loud explosion was heard erupting from the left engine.
The aircraft tilted heavily to one side, and the plane began shaking. Passengers peering out the window reportedly saw smoke coming from the ruined engine, and “metal parts flapping in the wind,” according to KOCO.
Oxygen masks were deployed inside the cabin as the plane descended rapidly — dropping 20,000 feet in less than 10 minutes. Startled passengers were crying and screaming, but the crew remained calm and announced that the plane was going to be diverted.
Pilots soon managed to stabilize the plane, and the Boeing 737 aircraft made an emergency landing at Pensacola International Airport minutes later. The 99 passengers and five crew members disembarked safely, with no reported injuries.
Southwest Airlines has yet to specify what caused the engine failure, but is working with the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board to investigate.