Holes on a Plane

[marmar]

:scared:



PHOENIX – A "gunshot-like sound" woke Brenda Reese as her Southwest Airlines flight cruised at 36,000 feet. Looking up, she could see the sky through a hole torn in the cabin roof.

The Boeing 737 lost cabin pressure after the hole developed Friday, prompting frightened passengers to grope for oxygen masks as the plane made a terrifying but "controlled descent." A passenger called it "pandemonium." Another watched as a flight attendant and another passenger passed out, apparently for lack of oxygen, their heads striking the seats in front of them.

Officials said Flight 812 lost pressure because of a fuselage rupture. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the pilot made a "controlled descent from 36,000 feet to 11,000 feet altitude."

His safe emergency landing at a military base in Yuma, about 150 miles southwest of Phoenix, drew applause from relieved passengers. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110402/ap_on_re_us/us_southwest_flight_diverted

[Scuba]

1. Well, things do go wrong...

[ThatsMyBarack]

2. Amazingly disturbing photos!

Thanks for sharing--sincerely.

[titaniumsalute]

3. Some great pics

Still safer to fly than drive!!

[elias49]

7. Jeez! What happened to that small plane?

I used to have a kitchen tool that sliced boiled eggs.
But that's no egg!

[MineralMan]

4. I used to fly fairly frequently on a turboprop commuter plane.

It always seemed like I ended up with a seat immediately adjacent to the prop. It always gave me a bit of a pause as I looked out the window to the blur of a prop just a short distance from me. Then, I'd just shrug and ignore it. It didn't even block my view. But if you think about it...

[Edweird]

5. So we now know that doesn't cause a plane to break apart in mid air.

[david13]

6. It is still much much much safer than riding in a car. dc