Southwest grounds Dash 300 series 737

Following a major scare, America’s Southwest Airlines has grounded around 80 Boeing 737-300s from its total fleet of around 550 737 series aircraft.

On Friday (1 April) a Southwest jet en route from Phoenix to Sacramento, flying at 35,000ft and carrying 118 people, lost a roof panel and with it cabin pressure.  Wearing oxygen masks the pilots made a fast but controlled descent landing safely near Yuma, Arizona.  Passengers recalled tense minutes when they saw the sky above and fumbled frantically for breathing equipment whilst the aircraft descended.  There were no injuries with the exception of one of the cabin staff who suffered minor wounds.

Investigators have ruled out terrorism, but so far have not been able to establish the cause of the rupture. www.southwest.com

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