On Apr. 17, a Southwest Airlines jet reportedly “blew an engine” at high altitudes and had to make an emergency landing in Philadelphia. The Boeing 737-700 engine fan blade came apart, and razor-edged shrapnel broke loose and significantly damaged a window, partially sucking a passenger, Jennifer Riordan, out the window. Unfortunately, Riordan, mother of two, passed away at a local hospital following the emergency landing, the airline’s first onboard death in 47 years. Seven passengers were also injured with minor abrasions.

The Southwest Flight 1380 left New York’s LaGuardia Airport and was scheduled to land in Dallas when the engine complication presented itself at 30,000 feet, approximately 20 minutes after takeoff. A result of mechanical fatigue, the engine failure was rare and unprecedented considering its reportedly “outstanding safety and reliability record.” Although technical representatives are looking into the peculiar failure, it is still unclear how the technicality went unnoticed before takeoff.

Immediately after the engine breakdown, oxygen pressure marks dropped in the cockpit and passengers were crowding together to plug the blown-out window in the depressurized cabin. Using jackets, luggage, and assorted belongings, nearby passengers attempted to fix the broken window while a nurse onboard performed CPR on Riordan. Hectic, those onboard were grim. Many recorded final videos for their loved ones; one passenger wrote a goodbye note to his wife and unborn child.

Southwest passenger Marty Martinez recounts his frightening experience onboard, detailing that “people were screaming, crying, and trying but failing to send text messages and calls.” As soon as he heard the engine failure, Martinez immediately purchased Internet and started a Facebook live video to get any “communication to the outside world.”

Meanwhile, Captain Tammie Jo Shults promptly contacted air traffic personnel for an emergency landing. A former Navy fighter pilot, Shults maintained her calm and composure while safely guiding the plane, operating with only a single engine, to the Philadelphia airport. Many even took to social media to applaud Shults’ expert navigation and smooth landing despite the grim circumstances.

The company released a statement expressing its deepest condolences and noting the activation of its “emergency response team” in an effort to “deploy every resource to support those affected by this tragedy.” Additionally, Southwest recently announced its plans to give all 149 passengers aboard Flight 1380 a $5,000 check. Ongoing investigations into possible causes behind the engine complication are actively being launched to avoid future deadly accidents.