Southwest incident today

[a1tinkfans]

So sad. Prayers for the friends and family of the deceased and thankful to the Pilot/s and crew that landed it safely. They must be devastated.

I’ve flown 4 times in the past 10 days.
I flew SW (twice) because I’ve always liked the experience overall. just yesterday, my return flight was weather delayed (was in a newer plane for that leg, which is quite nice). In my experience, The employees at SW are always upbeat, thoughtful and friendly. always been helpful, I’ve just always felt comfortable and safe. yesterday, With the bad weather ..cancellations and diversions.. there was no chaos, they just guided everyone and did what they could. I felt good about flying them.
I’m due to fly again soon and this has shaken me today...that poor unfortunate woman .
It must have been beyond horrifying for her and those around her.
Just so tragically sad

I pray they determine exactly how and why this occurred and may it never happen again.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

This article talks about some specifics re the poor passenger who was killed.

Warning, it's graphic:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-...-makes-emergency-landing-philadelphia/9669944

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Prayers for all involved.
PS Flying with my dad tomorrow on Southwest. He hasn’t been on a plane since 1990. He was talking about this today. I think it made him a little nervous.

I flew on Southwest last month with my mother, who had not flown for over 20 years, either. We had beautiful flights on brand new planes. I'm sure your flight will be smooth, too. Same for you, a1tinkfans!

 

[Disney Ron]

We had a female pilot on SW last September flying from Rhode Island to Orlando. She was excellent and I said to my wife while getting off the plane that it was one of the smoothest landings we've ever had. I'm glad the article mentioned it was a woman pilot so everyone knows what we know, that they are every bit as capable as a male pilot.

 

[KevM]

Prayers for all involved.
PS Flying with my dad tomorrow on Southwest. He hasn’t been on a plane since 1990. He was talking about this today. I think it made him a little nervous.

For personal angst, I find this an easier time to fly. Planes are going to be quadruple checked before they takeoff.

 

[bobbiwoz]

For personal angst, I find this an easier time to fly. Planes are going to be quadruple checked before they takeoff.

I hope you are right.

 

[SirDuff]

Wow - scary.

All this talk about "female pilot" reminds me of one of my favourite songs from "Come from Away"* It isn't strictly about 9/11 Gander, but one of the grounded pilots was Beverly Bass (first female pilot with American Airlines) and the song his about her becoming a pilot.

But I was too young and too short
And there were no female captains
And my dad said, "be patient" he said, "just see what happens"

Suddenly it stopped
No one saying, "You can't" or "You won't"
Or "You know you're not anything 'cause you're a girl"

*For those not familiar, it is musical about Gander, Newfoundland on 11-September-2001 and the days immeadiately afterwards. When US airspace closed, many of the planes landed in Gander (a town of less than 10,000 in 2001). Something like 7,000 people were on those planes.

 

[JaxDad]

Wow - scary.

All this talk about "female pilot" reminds me of one of my favourite songs from "Come from Away"* It isn't strictly about 9/11 Gander, but one of the grounded pilots was Beverly Bass (first female pilot with American Airlines) and the song his about her becoming a pilot.

*For those not familiar, it is musical about Gander, Newfoundland on 11-September-2001 and the days immeadiately afterwards. When US airspace closed, many of the planes landed in Gander (a town of less than 10,000 in 2001). Something like 7,000 people were on those planes.

The book "The Day the World Came to Town" recounts the story of Gander and 9/11. It's a nice read.

 

[Lori74]

I'm curious how many got onto other flights right after. That would've been a bit traumatic. Bless those that keep us safe in the air. The job isn't easy. Good job to all of those involved!

 

[John VN]

That's still considered the 737 Next Generation. The technology is reasonably modern, with "glass cockpits" instead of dials and analog gauges everywhere. One time I was on a Southwest Flight when the plane was a 737-300. It might have been 20 years old at the time, but the cockpit door was open and I saw that it had dials.

As long as I don't have to stick my feet out the bottom of the plane and RUN to help reach take-off speed or to help it stop, I'm good to go.

Even though the possibility of something like this happening is FAR LESS than finding potholes in the air resulting in rapid descents, I ALWAYS HAVE MY SEAT BELT FASTENED.

 

[greentea]

It could have turned out so much worse, thank goodness the pilot was able to get the plane down safely. I'm flying Southwest next month and I'm not any more worried than usual. But that sounds like an incredibly scary experience for everyone involved.

Because if they hadn't when people tell the story about it they will refer to the pilot as "him" and then there will be complaints about how society always assumes that men are pilots.......

Yeah, actually the first article I read about was this one, and the writer definitely just assumed/defaulted to male because it says: "Everyone clapped and praised the pilot after he set the aircraft down."

 

[Klayfish]

I'm curious how many got onto other flights right after. That would've been a bit traumatic. Bless those that keep us safe in the air. The job isn't easy. Good job to all of those involved!

Wouldn't bother me one bit. I fly about 5-6 times per year, and in fact will be flying Southwest in mid-May. This doesn't concern me really...the only thing I'm apprehensive about is the general ordeal of flying Southwest. Can't stand using them, they're utterly awful, IMO. However, for this flight, they have the cheapest rates and the right schedule I need, so I'm stuck with them. Ugh...

 

[DopeyDame]

I'm glad that they said "female" pilot to give credit that women pilots are just as capable (if not more so) than the males. People need to know that. They should just "know that" but that is not reality unfortunately.

One can wish that there were not idiots who don't have confidence in "other" types of people, but it helps when those people are forced to accept reality. There are people out there (fortunately a lot less as years go by) who think that competent people are male and of a certain racial and even religious background. Forcing them to see that accomplished professionals do not have to have any particular gender, racial, religious or sexual preferences is a good thing.

I am in my 70s. I've seen some of the worst prejudice, but I've also seen people realize how wrong they were when confronted with reality.

Thanks for posting this - it's a good perspective. As a woman in a very male dominated field, I got my hackles up with the "female pilot" description, but I appreciate your input.

 

[Iya]

Tammie Jo Shults was one of the first female fighter pilots in the Navy and the first woman to fly a F/A 18.

 

[sam_gordon]

I was also thinking about the times we live in when I read that one guy attempted to sign up for and connect to WiFi when he thought the plane was going down so he could follow news stories!

I had read that he signed up for Wifi so he could contact his family.

For personal angst, I find this an easier time to fly. Planes are going to be quadruple checked before they takeoff.

1) We don't know that his plane wasn't "quadruple checked".
2) Until they know what caused the problem, they won't know what specific to check for.
3) People (hundreds? thousands?) die every day in automobile accidents (whether human or mechanical error). Why isn't there an outcry of "I'm nervous to get into a car now"?

 

[MillauFr]

For personal angst, I find this an easier time to fly. Planes are going to be quadruple checked before they takeoff.

Agreed. Just don't fly Allegiant. When they find issues they just get out the duct tape and then fire anyone who objects to flying a plane with defects.

 

[cabanafrau]

Of course the dive was intentional. They needed to get to a certain altitude where O2 masks aren't necessary and pressure equalizes. But once at that altitude the plane was airworthy and capable of further flight. Say, for example, the plane was flying over the middle of Wyoming when the engine had a blowout. The plane would have been able to fly to Denver or another suitable airport. An immediate landing wasn't necessary for the survival of the plane. For the survival of injured passengers, yes, but not the plane.

Heck, despite its age, Southwest might even decide to repair the plane rather than scrap it.

I'm glad the plane was able to land safely so that no other lives were lost. I hope the woman's passing was very swift and she didn't suffer.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We had a female pilot on SW last September flying from Rhode Island to Orlando. She was excellent and I said to my wife while getting off the plane that it was one of the smoothest landings we've ever had. I'm glad the article mentioned it was a woman pilot so everyone knows what we know, that they are every bit as capable as a male pilot.

We fly out of Providence, too. We've had female pilots before, too.

I actually love Southwest! And although I don't really like to fly, I feel safe with them. This won't stop me from flying with them.

We flew to MCO last month (as I mentioned on two brand new planes) and the flights were just two hours long. They used to be three. I was happy.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm glad the plane was able to land safely so that no other lives were lost. I hope the woman's passing was very swift and she didn't suffer.

From the desccription, it seems that was the case. From the reports I posted here last night, her body up to her waist was outside the plane. It took two men (one in a cowboy hat) to pull her in, with great difficulty. When brought in, they did CPR, so she was unconscious and apparently in cardiac arrest. (Which is probably where the "heart attack" thing started.) Medical personnel on the plane were assisting with that effort while others were trying to cover up the window. I can't imagine how this lady's family is feeling right now. Keeping them in my prayers today.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm trying to understand how she got sucked out the window. I find it hard to believe her entire upper body went through.

Didn't Mythbusters do an episode on an explosive decompression and find that nothing would get sucked out?

ETA: here it is: