Southwest Patches Plane's 5-Foot Hole

Southwest Airlines is patching a large hole in a Boeing 737 that made an emergency landing in southwestern Arizona last week, but the company won't say when or if it will be back in service.

Engineers with Boeing are working with the airline on the fix.

Federal investigators cut out a large section of the roof surrounding the 5-foot by 1-foot tear so they can analyze why a rivet line failed.

Teams of Southwest mechanics have placed a large green patch on the plane as it sits on a runway in Yuma. An airport official says she expects the plane to fly out within days.

A hole ripped in the plane last week as it climbed after leaving Phoenix. Inspections on hundreds of older 737s have been ordered.


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