Deadly engine blast on Southwest flight prompts new questions and concerns

“Yeah, we have, part of the aircraft missing……it’s not on fire, but part of it’s missing” exclaimed Southwest Pilot Tammie Jo Shults. This is believably the last thing one who is aboard an airplane would be able to fathom or swallow hearing from a pilot. It was, yet, what those on Southwest Flight 1380, heard yesterday, after an engine blew apart, and an emergency landing was made to Philadelphia International Airport.

A woman sitting adjoint a window later struggled to keep her body inside of the aircraft. The window was shattered from parts of the airplane slamming into the bay. Passengers worked together to try and keep the woman from hanging out the hole. She later died from her injuries at the hospital.

There were 144 passengers and five crew members aboard the flight.This incident raises questions for future passengers, their safety and perception on flying.

“ This makes me rethink flying all together. How many of us have hit turbulence during a flight,” asked Lori Signa, who says this incident will haunt her for years before she will get on a plane again.

For others, flying is not easily avoidable.

Jerry Esobar works with USAID. He visits struggling countries all over the world which requires travel by plane often. “It’s my job to go and help people who are in danger and that requires traveling internationally.” Esobar has built his life around saving the lives of others.

After hearing Tuesdays daunting incident, Escobar questions the safety of his own life. “I constantly get others out of danger, but really I am putting my own life in great danger, every time I step aboard a plane.”

Where passengers will prefer to be seated aboard an aircraft is another anxiety travelers are debating.

“After hearing what happened on the news, I went ahead and changed all of my seats for my two upcoming flights away from the wings.” Francesca Stroobants, has a trip to South Asia planed in May for her college graduation. The window seat, for her and her classmates was always favoured. Having a solid surface to curl up against and views to look out at, was something that was normally fought over. “Not after this story,” Stroobants exclaimed. “Knowing that a woman was being sucked out of the plane being that she was in a window seat is something I know my friends and I will now consider.”

Southwest Airlines pilot Tammie Jo Shults is being praised for her quick thinking and composure during the emergency landing. The incident — the first airline accident to result in a fatality on an American carrier since 2009 — will be on the minds of future flyers.