One Dead After Southwest Jet Engine Explodes

One person is dead and several others injured, after a Southwest Airlines plane suffered a engine explosion.

Robert Sumwalt, the National Transportation Safety Board Chairman, confirmed the death in a press conference, according to Fox News.

While there was only one fatality, it is reported that seven other passengers were treated for minor injuries.

The incident took place during a flight from LaGuardia Airport in New York that was on its way to Dallas, Texas, as reported by PEOPLE. The pilot had to make an emergency landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Marty Martinez, who was on the flight, spoke with reporters and described what happened.

“All of a sudden, we heard an explosion and I come to find out that the engine exploded on the left side of the plane,” he detailed. “That explosion caused one of the windows to explode in row 17 of the plane, which was just two aisles over from me.”

Todd Baur, the father of one of the passengers, revealed that after the engine explosion shattered the window a woman on the flight “was partially … was drawn out towards the out of the plane” and “was pulled back in by other passengers.” Baur then stated that she had been taken to a hospital.

It was not immediately made clear if the deceased individual and the woman who was sucked out of the plane were the same person.

“I thought I was cataloging the last moments of my existence,” Martinez continued. “It was absolutely terrifying.”

“The plane felt like it was freefalling going down and we were probably going down for 10 or 15 minutes and of course, everyone is freaking out,” Martinez added, saying that even the flight attendants were noticeably shaken. “Everyone is crying. It was the scariest experience.“

Martinez finally said that at no point during the landing did the passengers receive guidance or instruction from the pilot or flight crew. Rather, it was not until the arrived safely on the ground that a flight attendant advised them about the engine blowout.

Shortly after the landing, the Philadelphia airport tweeted out, “FAA has issued ground stop for planes on the ground at other airports waiting to depart for PHL. Check flight status with your airline. Flights are departing PHL. Passengers should expect delays.”

Southwest also issued a statement as well, saying that they are “aware” of what happened, and that they were “in the process of transporting Customers and Crew into the terminal.”

“Safety is always our top priority at Southwest Airlines and we are working diligently to support to Customers and Crews at this time,” the airline added. “We will share updates to the flight as they are confirmed.”