Well we seem to be lurching from one incident to another at the moment.
Southwest Flight WN2294 from Nashville to Baltimore-Washington with 133 souls aboard had to do an emergency divert to Charleston when a hole the size of a large ball grew in the fuselage.
From Southwest’s statement
“DALLAS, TX—July 13, 2009–Southwest Airlines confirms its flight 2294, the 4:05 pm Eastern scheduled departure from Nashville to Baltimore/Washington diverted into Yeager Airport in Charleston, W. Va at approximately 6:10 pm Eastern today after a cabin depressurization. All 126 passengers and crew of five onboard landed safely and are awaiting a replacement aircraft in Charleston that will take them to Baltimore Washington International Airport later this evening.
The aircraft cabin depressurized approximately 30 minutes into the flight, activating the passengers’ onboard oxygen masks throughout the cabin. Medical personnel in Charleston assessed passengers and no injuries are reported. Southwest is sending its maintenance personnel to Charleston to assess the aircraft, and the airline will work with the NTSB to determine the cause of the depressurization.
According to initial crew reports, the depressurization appears to be related to a small hole located approximately mid-cabin, near the top of the aircraft.”
As a result – all Southwest Airlines 737-300 series aircraft are grounded.
But pictures say a 1000 words..
From the top – Picture from http://www.dailymail.com/News/Kanawha/200907130735
From Twitpic
But what is the commonality with the last incidents – EVERYONE GOT OUT SAFELY – This can’t be emphasised enough. Heck, they deplaned by an airbridge/jetway!
Good work to the pilots and crews!
