NTSB: Broken engine debris ripped hole in Southwest Airlines jet
Saturday, 13 Sep, 2016
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Aviation inspectors say an engine fan blade with metal fatigue broke off mid-flight, causing the diversion and emergency landing of a Southwest Airlines jet last month.
Debris from the engine also pierced a hole in the cabin’s outer layer of aluminium, causing a loss of pressure, the National Transportation Safety said in a preliminary report.
The interior cabin skin was not breached by the flying debris, the NTSB said.
The Southwest Airlines 737 jet was en route to Orlando from New Orleans on July 27 when it was forced to divert to Pensacola, Florida.
The jet landed without incident and there were no injuries among the 99 passengers and five crew members.
Southwest is ‘continuing to work closely with the NTSB on the investigation of this unique and extremely rare event,’ the airline said.
The jet is currently under repair but no date has been given for when it will re-enter service.
The NTSB said it found part of the titanium-alloy blade stub showed markings ‘consistent with fatigue crack growth.’
The NTSB said it is reviewing recent maintenance records for the jet.
Southwest said the plane’s most recent maintenance check was on August 21.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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