Engine seriously damaged, plane carrying more than 100 people made emergency landing

A Southwest Airlines plane carrying more than 100 people made an emergency landing in Florida, USA after the pilot discovered a problem with one of the two engines.

Passengers take pictures of the engine of Southwest Airlines Flight 3472 after it landed safely. Photo: WSJ

Flight 3472 departed from New Orleans on the morning of August 27, bound for Orlando, Florida, but was diverted to Pensacola, Florida. The Boeing 737-700 landed safely in Pensacola, with all 99 passengers and 5 crew members uninjured.

A woman sitting with her husband and three children on the flight said the engine was right outside her window. "There was just a loud bang. There was a little bit of smoke and then nothing," she told the AP. "I saw parts flapping in the wind."

The Wall Street Journal quoted an unnamed passenger as saying there was also a loud bang. "There was a loud bang but then everything was under control. Scary but under control. Everyone cheered the pilot when we landed safely."

Photos posted online by passengers also appeared to show what appeared to be part of the engine coming apart, but Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz said there was no explosion. He said the airline would work with National Transportation Safety Board investigators to determine the cause. After the emergency landing, the plane was taken for inspection.

Michael Boyd, president of aviation consultancy Boyd International, said it's rare for Southwest or any major airline to have such a serious engine failure. "Southwest has an excellent safety record because they spend a lot of money on maintenance."

According to VNE