A Corpus Christi couple was on the frightful Southwest plane that made an emergency landing Tuesday and one person died from injuries on board.
Alfred Tumlinson and Diana McBride were on board Southwest flight #1380 New York City to Dallas when mid-flight, the plane’s left engine exploded and shrapnel blew out a window.
About 30 minutes into the flight, Tumlinson said he heard a loud boom and felt the plane rattle. Within seconds, oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling and flight attendants instructed passengers to stay calm and brace for impact.
"You put your oxygen mask on, you have no idea what’s going on, the pilots telling us and all of a sudden a hole was knocked into the fuselage by a piece off the engine of the plane and that’s where the lady was getting sucked out at, and then brought her back in but needless to say she’s…yeah, it was an experience that I never want to experience again. Yeah, I can tell you that."
A woman was sucked into the window. Passengers were asked to assist flight crews in removing her but she later died of her injuries.
"The oxygen mask dropped, it’s just like you see in the movies, I mean it was crazy," said Tumlinson, "All you can do is pray at that point, your 32,000 feet in the air and you’re dropping, all you can do is pray."
"God was flying that plane is all I can say."
