‘Hole in the Cabin’: Rapid Decompression Forces Emergency Landing of Southwest Jet
- Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:52pm by
Scott Baker
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YUMA, Ariz. (AP) — A Southwest Airlines flight to Phoenix from California was diverted Friday to a military base in Yuma due to rapid decompression in the plane, federal officials said.
Ian Gregor, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman in Los Angeles, said the cause of the decompression wasn’t immediately known, but some passengers on Flight 812 said there was a hole in the cabin.
“You can see daylight through it,” a passenger identified as Brenda Reese told Sacramento TV station KCRA by cellphone.
Southwest officials said there were no injuries among the 118 people aboard.
Gregor said the plane landed safely at Yuma Marine Corps Air Station/International Airport at 4:07 p.m., less than an hour after takeoff from Sacramento International Airport. It was due to arrive at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport at 5:30 p.m.
Passengers became aware there was a problem when they heard a noise and felt the rush of wind and oxygen masks started dropping in the cabin, according to Reese.
She said a few people passed out “because their oxygen wasn’t working. It was scary.”
Reese said flight attendants went around the cabin aiding passengers. Emergency medical technicians were on board the plane treating passengers after it landed in Yuma.
Gregor said an FAA inspector from Phoenix was en route to Yuma to investigate the incident.
Gina Swankie, a spokeswoman for Sacramento International Airport, said Southwest was sending another plane to Yuma to take the passengers to Sacramento. They were expected to get to Sacramento around 8:30 p.m. Friday.
“I want to get home and hold my three children,” Reese said.
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Comments (102)
burnteye86
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 6:35amIt could be ______ (fill in the blank with union members, leftists, socialists, anarchists, muslim radicals, etc.) shooting at planes trying to cause chaos.
Report Post »steve-in-pa
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 5:51amI hope everyone get reimbursed for the new pair of underwear they had to buy.
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 5:31amI haven’t been on an airplane since my mother died, back in September 2010. I only fly under extortionately circumstances. My only child, a son, has to fly around the World for his work. I worry about him all the time.
That’s pretty concerning that not all of the oxygen masks were working Why not?
Report Post »Speed Racer
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 4:34amFrankly, they’re lucky it was a rapid decompression. Had it been a slower decompression and the crew not noticed signs of hypoxia, it could have been really bad.
Report Post »TonyDarrington
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:40amSee the United story.
Report Post »rcguy
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 3:21amI really don’t care. I stopped flying when you had to take your shoes off to fly. F*** Home Security and Obama.
Report Post »semidisk
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 3:27amI fly a lot and I’ve never had to take my shoes off for it.
Report Post »SingerGuy
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 5:45amI don’t see how that is possible. You can’t walk through the airport metal detector with your shoes on anymore. All shoes have to go in the bin and through X-Ray first. We can thank Richard Reed for that.
Report Post »tdufy
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:22amI fly every week and it’s not possible to pass through security without taking your shoes off. Unless you’re flying your own plane.
Report Post »caprica
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 3:08ameveryday more mess……do you miss president bush………eversince obama got to White House it is getting worst and worst and worst and worst……I feel that we are in a middle of a nightmare!
Report Post »jharper
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 10:14amand worse and worse and worse and worse.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 2:36amThe hole in the plane is an idea that came from the obama administration. They wanted to lighten the planes to save on fuel. If they put a hole in each passenger plane then the loss of weight would add up to saving 1,280 gallons of jet fuel a year.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 8:19am@THEGREATCARNAC ~~~
LOL…sounds about how they think….and, act.
Report Post »Parnell3rd
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 1:24amDid the plane land at Area 51? Darn that would have been a great story. Glad the plane landed safely!!!!!!!
Report Post »EP46
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 7:57amyou KNOW Area 51 does NOT exist !!! Watch for the Revolution to ‘take over Dream Land” lol
Report Post »NancyBee
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:05amArea 51 …Where are you?
Report Post »1TrueOne55
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 1:04amA lot depends on the age of the plane. I used to work for the Company that makes those planes and when they leave the factory they have a lifespan and after a while you have third party companies that make repairs and maintain them since most airlines like Southwest, JetBlue etc don’t have large repair hangars of repair stations like the past. This is how then can charge $99 for a cross country flight one way. I would suspect that somebody at the thirdparty missed an inspection signed off on the paperwork and then hoped it would last for a while longer…
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 1:01amIs that guy looking into the sun or is he stoned?
Report Post »DJM
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:57amThe photograph of the overhead fuselage–the photo where you see the guy taking a photo with his cell phone–appears to show a piece of the fuselage skin is missing. That certainly looks like sky to me. If I am correct, then in this case the airplane experienced structural failure of the pressure vessel. such failures can propagate or “unzip” at higher altitude and normal cruising speeds resulting in catastrophic loss of vehicle, crew, and all passengers. This is not the first time for the 737 and some of you may remember the near disaster of Aloha Airlines flight 243 where 1/3 of the fuselage roof and sides came off over near Hawaii killing one stewardess. See this link: http://www.aloha.net/~icarus/index.htm. In this case the pilot likely took aggressive action to get the plane to “thicker” air which is standard procedure. This is most likely an older Boeing 737; everything has a lifetime. Boeing will need to reassess their 737 fleets’ safe lifetime as you are supposed to stop flying long before the planes die! One other issue with Southwest is there frequent short flights. Each flight has a pressurization/depressurization cycle and you have to wonder just how much short hop flights shorten fuselage life. The Aloha Airlines 737 was also a short hop plane.
Report Post »AmeriCat
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 6:24amThank you for those details. I now remember it well. I took an inter-island flight shortly thereafter, buckled up throughout the entire time in the air.
Report Post »jt8d219
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 5:06pmThat plane was quite new by airline standards. Southwest has already been fined for not completing the inspections designed to prevent these failures. They have had two fuselage ruptures of 737′s in the last few years. I am an aircraft mechanic at another airline, and we fly many planes that fly shorter flights, are much older and thus more fatigued. Of course OUR mechanics are non-union though…
Report Post »Ailina
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 6:10amMahalo for that article. Sad day for Hawaii remembering that near disaster. We lost a wonderful lady who loved her job and embodied the “Spirit of Aloha” on every flight. The pilots and crew did an exemplary job landing that aircraft to safety.
Report Post »LB
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:53amNow BO can come in and nationalize the airline industry. For the safety of the people of course.
Report Post »pwatkins
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:52amI am drawing my line in the sand.
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:42amSabotage by so called Americans who are not in their hearts and they are here to destroy U.S.
Don’t be too PC to say what you feel in your gut….because it might get you killed. This sabotage is psychological terror to destroy airline corporations. It is working. I will not be manhandled and my dignity destroyed by the F* government so middle easterner can come and go on my soil…I would have banned them right after 9/11 …..I would have none of what they are doing it Britain. Knowing that a whole lot of them work at the airlines, I refuse to travel by air. So far THEY are winning because American are like the Britons SCARED to say they don’t want them anywhere near and that life has been HELL since they showed up on our door step. THEY have destroyed freedom…already.
Report Post »Deport all of them…that includes the LaRaza crowd. They are here to kill and destroy Americans. They have brought NOTHING good, wholesome and positive to the table. NOTHING. Period. KEEP IT REAL. F* PC.
End The Fed
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 3:43amHi culpergang – your English is comming along very well. Keep practicing and someday you will make a great American spy…. so you can stop “middle easterner come and go on my soil.”
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 7:49am@CULPERGANG ~~~ I agree with your comments. Way past time to deport them all. We lost that opportunity with the 2008 elections that caterwalled the far left, sorositos y et, into power.
WHEN we retake this country, our soldiers come home to defend AMERICA, the far left goes, obamamama and all his ilk go, and ALL illegals go. Then, we take a big deep breath and start over, so help us GOD.
Report Post »GetUpOnTheWheel
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:41ammmm hmmm …looks like racism to me. Undoubtedly caused by the white establishment….of which the Tea Party is part and parcel.
Report Post »powedj
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:32amIt‘a George Bush’s fault.
Report Post »jetmech568
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:30amNow I know a “sky light” is a bad idea for aircraft.
Report Post »anutter
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:24amscary stuff
Report Post »CanteenBoy
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:14amI’m with union sabotage.
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:09amI wouldn’t be surprised if the Obama administration saw this as a reason to ground all planes, have a committee formed to investigate the safety of all planes, – but only if SW Airlines isn’t a big contributer to the Democrats of course. If they give big bucks to the Dems, then this will just be a “minor problem.”
Report Post »chips1
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:06amYou mean to tell me that 118 people got into a large metal cylinder because someone said it’s going up in the air 35,000 feet? Are you out of your minds?????
Report Post »chalkdust
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 1:35amYes, and they actually paid to do this
Report Post »Dale
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 1:56amchalkdust;
After they starred in pornography and/or sexual abuse.
Report Post »mwhaley
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:58pmLook for the union label.
Report Post »Therightsofbilly
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:02amWish I had said that
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:10amTSA .. showing that we NEED them?
Report Post »Dale
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 1:00amDon’t forget that odumbo wants to control us and limit our travel. Could a holey scare do the trick?
Report Post »Parnell3rd
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 1:25am^5 good one!!!
Report Post »hrandym
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:34amBest comment I have read so far. Accidents happen: auto accidents, parachute accidents, amusement ride accidents, medical accidents etc. are all just accidents. Nothing deliberate … I hope.
Southwest is a great airline. The planes were well designed as evidenced by the longevity of their performance. Oh, I forgot. Obama was elected. Now THAT is a serious accident! Unfortunately, some voted for him on purpose.
Report Post »Cherynn
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:58pmSounds like an epidemic starting. How often do you hear about holes in air planes? 2 in one week now,,,whats going on here???
Report Post »home_of_the_brave
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:03amUm.. I think the count is up to three now. Two United planes and now a Southwest plane. This does seem suspicious, especially when the report that one of the “bullet holes” had a downward trajectory from the roof. Time to take a closer look at the ground crews and mechanics crews.
Report Post »TERMLIMITSNOW
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 1:25amthe taliban got some slingshots, duh
Report Post »sscncturn64
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 2:58pmHi CHERYNN,
Report Post »I think the problem is the governmenmt deregulating everything, now the airlines dont have to worry about hefty fines for not following proper procedure. Another problem is the airlines themselves, they arent making the huge profits that they desire. So they cut corners, replacing parts on their planes adds up to alot of money. So instead of replacing some parts that are good for between 5000 and 8000 hours of of fly time, they will change them out at the 8000 hour mark instead of the means of 6500 mark. Its sad, but they figure a couple of hundred people killed in an accident is cheaper than spending the money to make sure that their whole fleet is safe. Now the airlines charge you for everything, you cant even get a fcking pillow without paying for it. Im willing to bet that before long you will have to slide your credit card on the plane just to use the bathroom.
jt8d219
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 5:15pmI am an aircraft mechanic with a major airline. Please don’t knock all of us. This is just like a story about a crooked cop or something like that. Commercial aviation is incredibly safe today because of both the FAA’s oversight and the focus that WE have on safety. The first job of air crews and maintenance personnel is keeping people safe. Whether this was caused by Southwest missing inspections like they have in the past or an anomaly, THIS IS THE EXCEPTION THAT PROVES THE RULE. We as humans can never be perfect, but the vast majority of the professionals in aviation do everything they can to do the job right!
Report Post »home_of_the_brave
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:57pmWhat is with all these airline problems, is this sabotage?
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 8:35amAirline mishaps are weeeird, usually happen in 3′s.
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:57pmAnother non-story. Wait for some Too-Smart-By-Half Jackass to blame this on the Tea Party.
Report Post »Avidmonkey
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:02am“the cause of the decompression wasn’t immediately known, but some passengers on Flight 812 said there was a hole in the cabin.”
My money is on the hole in the cabin.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:08amI don’t think these are “non-stories” … but I wouldn’t be surprised if they did TRY to blame the TEA Party. Seem to be a group of these problems on airliners this week.
Report Post »ManThong
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:34amNice touch – jetliner with skylight.
Makes for easy nightime celestial fixes.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 1:53am@ManThong
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:34am
Nice touch – jetliner with skylight.
Makes for easy nightime celestial fixes.
Report Post »~~~~~~~~~~
I was thinking “sun roof.”
Jaycen
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 3:43amLOL Monkey.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 3:45amHey, I fly Soutwest Airlines all the time. I travel for business and they’re cheap. I often have to fly through Phoenix.
If I‘d passed out because the oxygen didn’t work, I’d be torqued.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 5:12amThis is an interesting story, thank God that the crew were able to get the plane down okay, and no one was hurt. The picture shows a hole indeed in the plane if I am seeing it right. Any hole in a plane, can be bad news had the rip continued to expand rapidly, maybe to total failure of the structure of the plane….worse case indeed, yet did not happen, thankfully.
Report Post »thegrassroots
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 6:29amALL of the attention appears to be on screening passengers. The question that doesn’t seem to have an answer is:
Who is screening all of those engineers and mechanics who build and maintain and repair airplanes? I even read a newstory that said many planes are sent out of the USA for repair and maintenance.
We’re seeing more and more in-flight mechanical failures in airplanes these days. It would be really easy for a mechanic to re-arrange wiring / leave out a few critical nuts and bolts and parts / plant a bomb / etc. Very simply said — it would be really easy for a mechanic, who is so inclined, to sabotage a plane and no one would realize it until it was too late. And / or, because a plane would be blown to pieces, no one could ever even pin-point what had happened.
Can you address this issue, Glenn? Everyone else I‘ve asked about this doesn’t have an answer — they don’t even respond!
Could it be true that ALL of the emphasis is on passengers and ZERO emphasis is on those who build and repair and maintain airplanes? If So — Not Good!
Report Post »oldoldtimer
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:16amNon story to some idiots. The hole is not what concerns me and should conncern every one that flies. SOME OF THE O2 MASKS DID NOT WORK! It takes minutes to get down from altitude. That is why several passengers passed out, lack of oxygen. They did not faint.
Report Post »TonyDarrington
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:34amSome of the passengers “passed out” because they freaked out and hyperventillated. Also, the cabin altitude was much higher after the decompression so the oxygen pressure was much lower than the sea level pressure they are used to.
Those “dixie cup” oxygen masks don’t give the blast of oxygen you are expecting, and you have to pull the tube to activate some of them.
@Darmok- the FAA requires ALL commercial planes to be torn apart to the structure and inspected every couple of years. Even the big military jets are.
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:23pmWith all the expensive government madates and regulations the airlines are forced to endure, it’s no wonder something like this happense every so often. Their profit margins are so small, that it takes many years for a new aircraft to pay for itself and generate a profit, so aircraft are left in service longer and longer, as the airlines struggle to stay afloat. As the old saying goes: “how do you make a small fortune in aviation?……start with a large one”
Report Post »taxed
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 1:23pmIn times like that, the value of an airline pilot really increases. One time I made fun of a friend who is an airline pilot, telling him he just puts it on auto-pilot and the plane flies itself. He said “I don’t get paid to fly the plane, I get paid to keep it from crashing.”
http://conservativepoliticalforum.com/index.php?board=1.0
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