A Southwest Airlines flight from New Orleans headed for Orlando was forced to make an emergency landing after a large section of one engine ripped off mid-flight.
The jet landed safety at Pensacola, Florida with no injuries among passengers and crew however an incident of this magnitude is likely to spark an investigation by the National Transport Safety Board.
Passengers said there was a ‘loud boom’ and a smell of smoke before oxygen masks were deployed in the cabin.
The jet descended 20,000 feet in just eight minutes as a result.
A Southwest spokesman said SW Flight 3472 suffered a ‘mechanical issue with the number one engine.
