Investigators are still looking at 200 of Southwest Airlines’ 737 aircraft after a jet was forced to make an emergency landing when horrified passengers discovered a hole in the plane’s fuselage.
The plane was going from Nashville to Baltimore.
"All 126 passengers and crew of five onboard landed safely," Southwest said in a statement.
The aircraft cabin depressurized approximately 30 minutes into the flight, activating the passengers’ onboard oxygen masks throughout the cabin.
Charleston Airport spokesman Brian Belcher said passengers on the 737 aircraft could see the outside through the hole in the rear of the plane.
The hole was positioned just above passenger Michael Cunningham, who had been sleeping in seat 20-C.
"All of a sudden, the loudest noise I ever heard came out of nowhere. There was no pop, no creak, no explosion like noise. There was just a loud roar," said Mr Cunningham.
"I got the baseball cap out of my face and I looked up and there’s the sun coming through the ceiling," he said.
No problems have yet been found and the airline is operating its normal schedule, according to spokespersons.
Report by David Wilkening
