Passengers on Southwest Jet in Mid-Flight Explosion Get Apology, Will Receive Money
When Flight 1380’s engine blew and a window shattered, passengers and crew members strapped on oxygen masks and waited as pilot Tammie Jo Shults steered them toward Philadelphia for an emergency landing
By Dan Stamm ••
Each passenger on board the Southwest Airlines flight that made an emergency landing in Philadelphia after an engine exploded and tore a hole in the plane will receive thousands of dollars in compensation.
The airline apologized and gave each passenger $5,000 in compensation and a $1,000 travel voucher, NBC News’ Tom Costello reported.
“Ours is a company and culture built on relationships,” Southwest said in a statement supplied to NBC10 Philadelphia. “Many of the Customers on that flight have flown with us before. We can confirm the communication and gesture are authentic and heartfelt.”
An engine on Southwest 1380 exploded over Pennsylvania on Tuesday, and debris hit the plane. Jennifer Riordan, a 43-year-old bank executive from Albuquerque, New Mexico, was sucked partway out of the jet when a window shattered. She died later from her injuries.
Cherub Ruth, a survivor of the Southwest 1380, describes what it was like being on board the plane when an engine blew. She says pilot Tammie Jo Shults’ voice over the intercom gave her hope.
For most people, the experience was filled with uncertainty as debris swirled down the aisle of the Boeing 737 and gusts of wind made it difficult to hear.
Investigators said the blade that broke off mid-flight and triggered the deadly accident was showing signs of metal fatigue — microscopic cracks from repeated use.
The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the incident.
Marty Martinez via Storyful
Shrapnel from a blown out engine, left, broke a window on a New York to Dallas flight out of Laguardia on April 17, 2018.
Marty Martinez via Storyful
Marty Martinez, left, and other passengers of a Southwest Airlines flight from New York to Dallas are seen during the flight's descent on April 17, 2018. Shrapnel from a damaged engine took out a window twenty minutes into the flight, causing a passenger to be partially sucked out of the plane. One person died from the incident.
Marty Martinez via Storyful
A blown out window is seen in this photo of a damaged Southwest Airlines flight flying from New York to Dallas on April 17, 2018. One person died when an engine exploded mid-flight from New York to Dallas, causing the plane to rapidly lose pressure and a passenger to get partially sucked out.
Marty Martinez via Storyful
Shrapnel from a damaged engine, seen here, took out a window twenty minutes into the flight, causing a passenger to be partially sucked out of the plane on a flight from New York to Dallas on April 17, 2018.
Marty Martinez via Storyful
A blown out window and oxygen masks are seen in this photo of a damaged Southwest Airlines flight flying from New York to Dallas on April 17, 2018.
SkyForce10
A window appears to be broken. See Larger
Corey Perrine/AP
A Southwest Airlines plane sits on the runway at the Philadelphia International Airport after it made an emergency landing in Philadelphia, on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. The Federal Aviation Administration says the flight from New York to Dallas made an emergency landing after the crew reported damage to one of the engines, as well as the fuselage and at least one window.
Matt Tranchin
Passenger Matt Tranchin snapped this photo of the damaged window. Tranchin said he texted family members to say goodbye as the plane descended. Once the plane landed, "there was a lot of hugging."
@abourman
Amanda Bouman posted this photo of the damaged engine on Instagram
SkyForce10
A close up of the broken window.
@EMMS_MrJohnson
@EMMS_MrJohnson shared this photo of the damaged engine on Southwest 1380.
SkyForce10
A foam was sprayed onto the plane and runway.
SkyForce10
People could be seen exiting the plane and getting onto waiting buses.
Sandra Vasich
SkyForce10
One window appeared to be broken.
SkyForce10
SkyForce10
SkyForce10
SkyForce10
A blown engine on a Southwest flight from LaGuardia to Dallas that made an emergency landing in Philadelphia.
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SkyForce10
No word yet on the extent of injuries.
Courtney Padilla
A passenger photo shows emergency vehicles on the tarmac in Philadelphia after a Southwest plane was forced to land mid-flight after an engine explosion on April 17, 2018.
Courtney Padilla
A passenger photo shows damage to one of the plane's engines on April 17, 2018.
Courtney Padilla
A passenger photo shows oxygen masks, which were lowered when cabin pressure dropped on a Southwest flight from New York to Dallas on April 17, 2018, after an engine exploded mid-flight.
Courtney Padilla
A passenger photo shows airline staff in the aisle after the plane landed following a mid-flight engine explosion on April 17, 2018.
Vito Di Stefano
Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board inspect the plane's damaged engine.
Taylor patino
Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board inspect the plane's damaged engine.
Vito Di Stefano
Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board inspect the plane's damaged engine.
NTSB
"Lead NTSB investigator Bill English receives Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder from Southwest Airlines flight," the NTSB said.
NTSB
Investigators with the NTSB examine a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 after a catastrophic engine failure resulted in the death of a passenger Tuesday, April 17, 2018.
NTSB
The wing above the engine showed damage.
The Reading Eagle
Members of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania State Police and game warden lift a piece of an aircraft engine believed to be from Southwest Airlines flight 1380 on Tuesday, April 18, 2018. The part was discovered a day after the plane's left engine exploded in flight over rural Berks County, Pa.
Reading Eagle
Investigators photograph a piece of debris with what appears to be part of the Southwest logo on it. See Larger
