One Passenger Fatally Injured As A Result Of The Incident

The National Transportation Safety Board announced Tuesday its intention to hold a board meeting Nov. 19, 2019, 9:30 a.m. (EST), to determine the probable cause of the fatal April 17, 2018, engine failure and depressurization accident involving Southwest Airlines flight 1380.

The accident airplane, a Boeing 737-700 powered by two CFM International CFM56-7B engines, experienced a failure of the left engine after departing New York’s LaGuardia Airport, when a fan blade failed. The fan blade failure resulted in the loss of portions of the inlet and fan cowl. Fragments from the fan cowl struck the fuselage, a cabin window departed the airplane, and a rapid depressurization occurred. The flight crew conducted an emergency descent and diverted to Philadelphia International Airport. There were 144 passengers and five crewmembers aboard. One passenger suffered fatal injuries and eight passengers suffered minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged.

The meeting will include NTSB investigative staff and board members. It is an open public board meeting being held at the NTSB Boardroom and Conference Center, 420 10th St., SW, Washington, DC.

(Image provided with NTSB news release)

FMI: Public Docket