Even though traveling via an airplane is considered to be the safest form of transportation available, accidents can still occur with terrible consequences.
Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 was doing a routine flight from New York City to Dallas Love Field but was forced to make an emergency landing in Philadelphia shortly after the plane took off.
At 32,000 feet altitude, one of the engines of the plane exploded.
Because of the blast, shrapnel made its way through one of the windows which depressurized the cabin. One woman was almost sucked out of the plane because of the pressure difference, but her fellow passengers sitting close by were able to pull her back in.
Tragically, one person was severely injured during the explosion and passed away shortly after.
When the cabin was depressurized, the oxygen masks dropped down and as you can imagine, everyone started panicking. The passengers thought that their precious time on this planet was coming to an end.
However, in some circumstances, it’s completely possible to land a plane safely with just one engine. Circumstances here were extremely tough because of the shrapnel and the depressurization, but the captain knew she needed to get her passengers to some solid ground safely.
“I just remember holding my husband’s hand, and we just prayed and prayed and prayed,” Amanda Bourman said to NBC. “And the thoughts that were going through my head of course were about my daughters, just wanting to see them again and give them a big hug so they wouldn’t grow up without parents.”
Marty Martinez was one of the other passengers onboard Southwest Airlines Flight 1380. In what he thought was one of his final moments, the man purchased Wi-Fi access on the plane to inform his loved ones of his situation and say goodbye via a Facebook live stream.
“Something is wrong with our plane! It appears we are going down! Emergency landing!! Southwest flight from NYC to Dallas!!”
Luckily, the pilot was completely prepared for situations like these.
Tammie Jo Shults was sitting in the pilot’s chair and thanks to her quick intervention, all other passengers and crew members survived.
The 56-year-old pilot from Texas has tons of experience flying aircraft. After she graduated from Kansas University, the woman joined the Navy as one of the first female fighter pilots ever. Another fantastic accolade is that Tammie was the first woman on the planet to ever fly the supersonic F/A-18 Hornet jet.
After her military career as a pilot, the woman became an instructor for the fighter jets and later became a pilot for commercial flights.
“Tammie Jo Shults is the definition of an American hero. One of the first female fighter pilots in the U.S. Navy, I’m glad she was in the cockpit yesterday. Her bravery saved lives. #GoNavy” veteran & final NASA commander of the Endeavour Space Shuttle Mark Kelly posted on Twitter.
The pilot was able to make a perfect emergency landing in Philadelphia, saving the lives of 142 passengers and 5 crew members.
The communications between the cockpit of Flight 1380 and the air traffic control tower have also been published on the internet, and you can’t help but notice how calm and professional the pilot stays during the distress call.
"We have a part of the aircraft missing": Listen to the dramatic communications between the pilot of Southwest flight 1380 and air traffic control as plane from NYC comes into Philadelphia for emergency landing https://t.co/CgWfJH1DhY pic.twitter.com/QKmWOXNJ0r
— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) April 17, 2018
“Southwest 1380, we’re single engine,” Tammie said in the mayday. “We have part of the aircraft missing, so we’re going to need to slow down a bit.”
The passengers couldn’t praise their pilot, co-pilot, and crew enough.
“Alfred & I were on this flight along with 5 other Texas Farm Bureau Agents & spouses,” passenger Diana McBride Self posted.
“There are no words to explain the fear & anxiety that is experienced first hand in a situation like this. It’s traumatic to say the least.”
“A huge thank you to the Southwest Crew & Pilot Tammie Jo Shults for their knowledge and bravery under these circumstances. God bless each one of them.”
“In closing, all I can say is live each day to the fullest and like it’s your last because one day it will be.”
“Life is short, get your affairs in order and then live.”
A true hero.
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