Southwest Jet Makes Emergency Landing After Fuselage Hole Causes Decompression

[NYCA News]

NYCAviation:

Southwest Jet Makes Emergency Landing After Fuselage Hole Causes Decompression (http://nycaviation.com/2011/04/southwest-jet-makes-emergency-landing-after-fuselage-hole-causes-decompression/)

A Southwest Airlines flight bound for Sacramento made an emergency landing in Yuma, Ariz., when a hole reportedly appeared in the fuselage and the cabin lost pressure.
[Click to Read Full Article (http://nycaviation.com/2011/04/southwest-jet-makes-emergency-landing-after-fuselage-hole-causes-decompression/)]

[gonzalu]

OMG that is WILD!!!

[Boxman]

Reminiscent of SWA N387SW (737-3H4), another -300 that blew a football sized hole in its crown on July 13, 2009.

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/08/ntsb-issues-report-on-southwes.html

[jerslice]

Thats exactly what came to my mind.

[NIKV69]

Sure hope it doesn't go back to them not doing the exterior inspections for cracks like the last time. A 10 million dollar fine will be chicken feed.

[moose135]

From southwest.com (http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=92562&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1545376&highlight=)


Southwest Airlines said early this morning it is working with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to determine the cause of a depressurization event during a Phoenix-Sacramento flight on Friday that diverted to Yuma, Ariz., for a successful emergency landing. Further, the carrier has decided to keep a subset of its Boeing 737 fleet out of the flying schedule to begin an aggressive inspection effort in cooperation with Boeing engineers. From the WN statement, 81 aircraft are affected. They are covered by an FAA Airworthiness Directives requiring inspections for skin fatigue. WN expects to have the inspections completed in the next several days.

[megatop412]

don't they still have a bunch of -300's in the roster?

[LGA777]

I liked that when they sent a replacement aircraft to Yuma to pick up the stranded customers they sent cust svc agents (probably supervisors) to assist the customers plus mechanics to inspect the aircraft. At least it is close enough to major repair facilities after some temporary patching could be ferried at low altitude unpressurized for further repairs, unless because it's a -300 (though a very young one) they decide just to write off the aircraft.

[Alex T]

I liked that when they sent a replacement aircraft to Yuma to pick up the stranded customers they sent cust svc agents (probably supervisors) to assist the customers plus mechanics to inspect the aircraft. At least it is close enough to major repair facilities after some temporary patching could be ferried at low altitude unpressurized for further repairs, unless because it's a -300 (though a very young one) they decide just to write off the aircraft.

Southwest sent everyone involved from Phoenix, CSA's, both regular and Supervisors, Ramp Agents and Operation Agents, basically the whole team from PHX to re dispatch the flight, get the Customers "Rebooked" to the new flight ( a 737-700 sent from PHX), and Ramp Agents to get the bags switched and finally Ops Agents to deplane the -300 and re-board the -700.

SWA does have 174 active 737-300's in the fleet right now.

SWA issued a full refund, and apology to all Customers, and two free round trip tickets to every passenger on board, and will compensate more if needed as investigation occurs right now on the lone -300.

This is certainly a very freak incident, and certainly hope this is not something deeper than the NTSB ruled on the last -300 incident.

[gonzalu]

Not sure if these have been seen...

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1039&message=38195505

[gonzalu]

And now she is back in the fleet...

http://www.yumasun.com/news/yuma-69175-plane-southwest.html