What a flight! Made it!! Still here!! #southwest #flight1380 pic.twitter.com/Cx2mqoXVzY
— Joe Marcus (@joeasaprap) April 17, 2018
In what could only be described as every fliers worst nightmare, a businesswoman and mother of two lost her life while travelling from New York to Dallas. This happened aboard a Southwest Airlines flight when the engine on the plane’s left side blew out and the fragments hit and smashed a window. This, in turn, caused the cabin pressure to dramatically drop.
Who Was She And What Happened?
The woman, who’s being identified as Wells Fargo employee, Jennifer Riordan, was partially sucked out through the shattered window at the cruising altitude of 32,500 feet. She was quickly pulled back in by fellow passengers who tried to rush to her aid. They immediately started giving her CPR and upon emergency landing at Philidelphia, she was rushed to the hospital. However, she succumbed to her injuries soon after. A total of seven passengers were injured and one lost her life in this terrifying incident.
What is wrong with this picture?? #southwest pic.twitter.com/HOyJiPxES7
— MARY KATH WILSEY ??♀️ (@IMMK) April 17, 2018
What The Passengers Had To Say.
Many passengers took to Facebook and Twitter to post about their horrifying ordeal and some even managed to film the chaos and some of the descriptions will chill you to the bone. Amanda Bourman who was one of the passengers aboard the flight said;
I just remember holding my husband’s hand, and we just prayed and prayed and prayed.
And the thoughts that were going through my head of course were about my daughters, just wanting to see them again and give them a big hug so they wouldn’t grow up without parents.
How Did Something Like This Happen?
It is being claimed that the explosion in the engine was caused due to metal fatigue but they are still awaiting an official report. However, theories that this was deliberate are already floating around. Given Southwest Airlines past, many are calling for a complete inspection of the companies working. Metal fatigue is something that is usually tested for and passengers were quick to point out how southwest has failed in the past.
The Miracle Landing
Tammie Jo Shults was the pilot who safely landed after an engine failed mid-air Shults was one of the first woman navy pilots in the United States. who did an incredible job getting the plane down safely and saving 143 passengers and a few crew members aboard. #Southwest pic.twitter.com/BiTxMwFhe2
— ▪NY NEWS▪ (@NYNEWS10) April 17, 2018
It’s a miracle that the flight was able to make an emergency landing in that condition. Tamie Jo Shults is credited with safely getting the plane to the ground and saving the lives of 143 passengers. Shults was one of the very first women navy pilots in the United States.
#Southwest Airlines passenger who was killed and now has passed on appears to have been a wonderful person, wife and loving mother of two. Our prayers go out to her family.
Good Bye Jennifer Riordan, You’re in the Arms of the Angels Nowhttps://t.co/Y2OH77nocY#Flight1380
— elijah colt (@ElijahColt) April 17, 2018
However, we can’t imagine what the family would be going through right now and we wish them strength in this trying time. May Jennifer rest in peace.