Southwest Airlines grounds 81 planes after emergency

Reuters ^ | Sat Apr 2, 2011 10:57am EDT | David Schwartz

[Paleo Conservative]

(Reuters) - Southwest Airlines grounded 81 aircraft from its Boeing 737 fleet for inspection after a gaping hole in the fuselage forced one of its planes to make emergency landing in Arizona on Friday, the company said on Saturday.

Southwest (LUV.N) and Boeing (BA.N) engineers will inspect the aircraft to try to determine the cause, Southwest said in a statement. Passengers heard a loud noise and suddenly saw a hole about mid-cabin.

Southwest Airlines is working with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration on the ground in Arizona to determine the cause of a sudden drop in cabin pressure on Southwest Flight 812 from Phoenix to Sacramento on Friday, airline officials said.

[buccaneer81]

It sure was. They finally solved the problem by using a water immersion tank on a fuselage. But public perception killed the plane.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Geeeesh, people; get a grip and take a joke.

Even if I do despise it.

[buccaneer81]

(Meanwhile, Southwest is still the Wal-Mart/BJ’s/Costco of the air - cheap and they treat you that way.)

US Air ISN'T cheap and treats you far worse than SWA.

[Paleo Conservative]

US Scareways has killed more people than SWA. Since 1994, 243 have died on US Airways. Since 1971, ZERO have died on Southwest.

But they did kill a child on the ground when one of their planes slid off the end of a runway at MDW.

[Paleo Conservative]

It sure was. They finally solved the problem by using a water immersion tank on a fuselage. But public perception killed the plane.

It wasn't just public perception that killed it. Economics were also a factor. The Comet had fewer seats than a modern commuter jet but had transatlantic range. The 707 had a capacity for up to 179 people. Burying the engines in the wing root meant it was difficult to upgrade with turbofans, while it was rather easy to upgrade the 707 and KC-135 with more efficient engines due to the mounting of engines on pylons hung from the wings.

[buccaneer81]

while it was rather easy to upgrade the 707 and KC-135 with more efficient engines due to the mounting of engines on pylons hung from the wings.

True. The 737 and 747 are examples of "easier" upgrade engines.

[buccaneer81]

I remember that. A true screwup by the crew as they landed halfway down an icy runway.

[American Quilter]

Just one more reason that I won’t be flying again.

[Kickass Conservative]

When Terrorists think of doing something big, they pick a commuter airliner going from Phoenix to LA.

Who needs a A380 when you can bomb a 737.

Give me a break, please...

BTW - I heard Osama Bin Laden was on that Aloha Airlines 737 when the roof peeled back. Geez.

[buccaneer81]

Do you drive or shower?

[spokeshave]

At 30,000 feet what could one make impact with? A meteorite???

Terminal velocity is about 160 mph due to air friction on the way down.

And yes...it would make an impact.

[TwoSwords]

They’ve had that incident recently on Manswers on the Spike channel. Supposedly, it was her last day and she wasn’t a very good stewardess.

[Right Wing Assault]

[freedumb2003]

>>I don’t fly anymore ‘cause I don’t have to. Retired. If I want to go to California, I’d much rather drive and enjoy our wonderful, beautiful country.<<

Ah, I see. I have 2 million miles so I agree that when I retire I will fly as little as possible.

>>IMHO, the airlines and the TSA are doing everything they can to discourage flying.<<

Agreed. They never have given us the “trusted flier” program they promised not long after 9/11. Ironically, they HAVE established “Global Pass” so after I land from international flights I walk right through Border Control and Customs.

[PA-RIVER]

Two years since I was on a plane. I’m sooting for 100.

[freedumb2003]

>>Meanwhile, Southwest is still the Wal-Mart/BJ’s/Costco of the air - cheap and they treat you that way.<<

Yes and no. The PEOPLE at SWA treat you extremely well. They are always cheerful and helpful. I have found that at all the airports I flown in and out with them. Their POLICIES OTOH are very rigid and not customer friendly at all.

[mowowie]

“Southwest is about the only airline I want to fly”

Same here, My favorite domestic airlines.
They even gave me a $550 voucher and and a nice, free room when Obama caused our flight to be cancelled last
july in LV.
Whe are using it May 4.
I hope this prob is found and solved by then....

[luvie]

I hope the problem is solved, too. I just hope it wasn’t a
mini-bomb from some nutjob. :(

It didn’t look like metal stress to me with the edges so ragged.

Just sayin....

I love to fly...not so crazy about the TSA pat-downs. Ugh!

[dools0007world]

In the absense of any other logical explanation I agree with you. The plane is not “old”. I suppose there could be a manufacturing defect involved as well.

If I were a terrorist I’d find a way to get my bomb in the overhead.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

In 1988, a flight stewardess flew out the window at 20k feet when the fuselage broke apart mid-flight.

"Coffee, tea or ((( crack, whooosh ))) Me-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e?"