Airline Only Reports Vibration On Takeoff; Pics Show Damage

The official report on a Southwest Airlines flight that apparently experienced a catastrophic engine failure November 17 is being questioned by the passengers, and investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Flight 438 returned to Dallas' Love Field after the number two engine on the Boeing 737-300 failed. Pictures of the engine nacelle shows a gaping hole in the outboard exterior of the engine fairing, possible evidence of an uncontained turbine blade failure.

According to the passengers, the airline has told them the FAA report misstates the event.

Southwest said the aircraft "experienced a vibration in the number two engine shortly after take-off," according to the FAA report. Passengers, however, say an explosion occurred at 25,000 feet and the jet experienced an "engine failure," according to a report on Consumerist.com

"It was not during takeoff. There was a lot of damage. There was no vibration. It doesn't say anything about an uncontained explosion at 25,000ft," said a passenger only identified as "Joe."

"I was sitting on that engine watching it happen with my own two eyes," the passenger continued. "The fan blades shot out towards the plane leaving holes on the engine cowlings and a huge hole on the other side. There was no vibration, but a huge explosion. That report is false and they should really clean it up! The blades could have easily penetrated the fuselage causing a crash, or went through and killed a passenger."

Other passengers explained their fear while returning to the Dallas airport.

"We all thought we were going to die! We said our goodbyes," said Jen, another identified passenger on flight 438.

"There was an explosion and holes in the right engine with something sharp still sticking out of the engine. The plane started shaking so bad. The flight attendant was crying and one was getting oxygen because she was hyperventilating. They were able to turn the flight around and land with no incident but not before the longest 20 minutes …"

Southwest pilots were able to nurse the plane back to Love Field without incident.

The NTSB only investigates "uncontained" engine failures, or failures that cause parts to exit the engine's nacelle, according to the Board's website.

FMI: www.southwest.com, www.ntsb.gov