Pic of WN flight about to fly through AZ sandstorm

[flyboy 28]

http://i.imgur.com/FyTDLh.jpg


Yikes.

[JHNA57]

I'm surprised they would get this close, let alone fly into the cloud. I would think they would steer well clear of the cloud and its abrasive effects.

[T-Bird76]

They probably flew above it. By the time the cloud reached the city the height of the cloud was only 5000 feet.

[Derf]

Having lived in Arizona and been in a few of those, it is weird. Dust storms are not really fun but does not seem that dangerous. It is like someone throwing a shovel of sand at your car when it is done. I am surprised that the airplane did fly that close. Sand ingestion does not sound that bad, but the paper in sandpaper is the real harmless part. Shocked at that image!

[gonzalu]

You nuts, that's Southwest man, they open the windows in situations like these! LOL...

[steve1840]

I heard they opened up the top of the fuselage before flying through it to create a new "beach theme" interior for that flight.

[Gerard]

Here's a video taken from I believe a newscopter......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W4Cx44XKZ4&feature=share

[Derf]

Apparently there was quite the discussion as he few thru the dust storm... (Not for hours or anything but from the looks of the video...for quite some time)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOL97mqzyNU

at this time I would like to say "HOLY SH!T!"