The thought of someone being sucked out of an airplane mid-flight sounds like something out of a movie, but it has actually happened. One of the most well-known cases was the tragic incident of Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 in 2018. But how does something like this occur? Let’s break it down.
The Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 Incident
On April 17, 2018, Southwest Flight 1380, a Boeing 737, was flying from New York to Dallas when disaster struck. One of the engines exploded mid-air, sending metal debris flying into the fuselage. A piece of shrapnel shattered a window near Row 14, instantly decompressing the cabin.
Jennifer Riordan, a 43-year-old passenger, was sitting next to the broken window. The sudden loss of cabin pressure pulled her partially out of the plane. Fellow passengers fought to bring her back inside, but she suffered fatal injuries.
How Can Someone Be Sucked Out of a Plane?
- Explosive Decompression
When a window or part of the fuselage breaks at high altitude, the air inside the plane rushes out violently to equalize with the low pressure outside. This can create enough force to pull objects—and even people—out of the aircraft. - The Power of Cabin Pressure
Commercial jets fly at around 35,000 feet, where the air pressure is much lower than at sea level. To keep passengers safe and comfortable, the cabin is pressurized. If that pressure is suddenly lost, it creates a vacuum-like effect, sucking out anything not secured. - The Role of Speed and Wind Forces
At cruising altitude, planes travel at speeds exceeding 500 mph. If a person is near a broken window, the combination of wind forces and pressure differences can make it nearly impossible to hold on.
Other Notable Cases
While rare, similar incidents have happened before:
- Aloha Airlines Flight 243 (1988): A section of the fuselage ripped off mid-flight, exposing passengers to open air. A flight attendant, Clarabelle “C.B.” Lansing, was sucked out and never found. Miraculously, the plane landed safely.
- British Airways Flight 5390 (1990): The cockpit windshield blew out at 23,000 feet, sucking the pilot halfway out. His crew held onto him for 20 minutes until the plane landed safely, and he survived.
Can This Happen Today?
While terrifying, these incidents are extremely rare. Modern aircraft are designed with multiple safety layers:
- Stronger materials: Windows and fuselages are reinforced to withstand extreme pressure.
- Regular maintenance: Airlines follow strict maintenance schedules to check for cracks, wear, and weaknesses.
- Passenger awareness: Sitting with a seatbelt fastened at all times can help in unexpected situations.
Being sucked out of a plane is a nightmare scenario, but it’s also an incredibly rare one. Advances in aircraft design and safety protocols have made flying safer than ever. Still, these incidents serve as a reminder of how powerful the forces at play in aviation can be.
What are your thoughts on this? Does flying still feel safe to you? Let us know in the comments! ✈️
