US: Plane makes emergency landing after engine failure

By Safvan Allahverdi

WASHINGTON (AA) - A Southwest Airlines plane made an emergency landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania after its engine blew out on Tuesday, leaving several people injured.

The Boeing 737 was en route from New York City to Dallas when the engine failed, and a female passenger was "partially sucked out" of one of the plane's windows due to depressurization, according to passenger accounts and local media reports. When the passenger was halfway out of the plane, she was pulled back in by other passengers.

At least one passenger in critical condition due to head trauma was taken to the hospital and nine others were reported injured, according to local media reports.

A Southwest Airlines statement said the plane, which was carrying 143 passengers and five crewmembers, diverted due to "an operational event" but photos appeared to show engine damage.

Firefighters were on the scene helping evacuate passengers off the plane on the tarmac at Philadelphia International Airport.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in a tweet that it was aware of the incident and gathering information.

Reports of shrapnel shattering a window indicate that the engine broke apart in what is known as an “uncontained” failure.

U.S. regulations require engines to be covered in tough casings designed to prevent metal from flying into fuel tanks and passenger areas if an engine breaks apart.