Passenger dies after engine '˜explodes' on flight

A federal investigator has said that one person died after a plane with engine failure made an emergency landing in Philadelphia.
The engine after the emergency landing. (Amanda Bourman via AP)The engine after the emergency landing. (Amanda Bourman via AP)
The engine after the emergency landing. (Amanda Bourman via AP)

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt said that the engine will be shipped for a detailed examination.

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.

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Philadelphia’s fire chief says that one person was taken to the hospital in critical condition and seven were treated for minor injuries.

The plane, a twin-engine Boeing 737 bound from New York to Dallas with 149 people aboard, made an emergency landing in Philadelphia just before noon as passengers breathing through oxygen masks that dropped from the ceiling said their prayers and braced for impact.

“I just remember holding my husband’s hand, and we just prayed and prayed and prayed,” said passenger Amanda Bourman, of New York.

“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.”

Passenger Marty Martinez did a brief Facebook Live posting while wearing an oxygen mask. He posted, “Something is wrong with our plane! It appears we are going down! Emergency landing!! Southwest flight from NYC to Dallas!!” After the plane landed, he posted photos of a broken window near the left engine.

Everyone started yelling to brace for impact when the plane started to land, Bourman said. She said everyone clapped and praised the pilot after he set the aircraft down.

Bourman said she saw emergency workers using a defibrillator to help a woman who was taken off the plane.