New Pics of Damaged Southwest Plane
NTSB releases pictures of plane with football-sized hole.
Michael Cunningham
Michael Cunningham said he heard a loud boom, and then saw the hole in the plane's fuselage.
The National Transportation Safety Board released two new pictures showing damage on a Southwest Airlines plane that prompted an emergency landing.
On Monday, the 737 became depressurized about 30 minutes into the flight, causing oxygen masks to drop. Passengers on Flight 2294 said they could see the outside through the 1-foot-by-1-foot hole in the rear of the plane. The crew made an emergency landing in West Virginia.
None of the 133 people on board were injured. The airline placed the passengers on another plane to Baltimore.
The aircraft is 15 years old, one of the older 737s in Southwest's fleet.
NTSB investigators say the damage left a hole measuring approximately 17 inches by 8 inches. A preliminary check found significant corrosion or obvious pre-existing mechanical damage.
Southwest Airlines is in the process of repairing the aircraft at Yeager Airport in Charleston, W.A.
Posted Thursday, Jul 16, 2009 - 4:58 PM CST
