Check this out - scary stuff!!!http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/southwest-airlines-grounds-81-planes-after-arizona-emergency-landing/story-e6freuz9-1226032615603http://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA812/history/20110401/2225Z/KPHX/KNYL/tracklogNotice that at one stage the descent rate is at over 10,000 feet per minute!Picture of damage: http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2011/04/02/us/PLANE.htmlJust found this out: Aircraft reg: N632SW currently at 39,768 cycles and 48,722 hours. It's a 737-3H4 apparently.

They went pritty hardly down, that´s for sure.Steffen

Can't have too many people fainting! Pilot did a great job under tremendous pressure.

Is that 737 going to be written-off?

I've no idea about that. However, that particular aircraft is more than 15 years old, so who knows?

I've no idea about that. However, that particular aircraft is more than 15 years old, so who knows?

Thanks for the quick reply. Wouldn't planes that are about 15-20 years old be replaced by newer 737s?

Not sure - apparently SW doesn't have the best safety/maintenance record...

You have got to admire how much the pilot slowed the aircraft down on the rapid descent, in FS, I would of been supersonic x2.

Pilot did a great job. It sure was a scary experience for the crew and passengers, especially for those who are afraid of flying. I remember there was similar accident involving the 737, when there was a whole in the fuselage. Regards,

SW doesn't have the best safety/maintenance record...

Actually they have one of the best safety records! I have been in their head quarters, and in their training center and the mentality is very much safety oriented. Their service is also unmatched. I believe that there has been only one fatality in SWA history, and the person wasn't even a passenger on the plane. I think the only fatality was when the AC skidded off of the icy runway in chicago, and hit a car. One person in the car died, but none of the passengers were injured.

Sounds like the Aloha Airlines flight in the late 80's.

Actually they have one of the best safety records! I have been in their head quarters, and in their training center and the mentality is very much safety oriented. Their service is also unmatched. I believe that there has been only one fatality in SWA history, and the person wasn't even a passenger on the plane. I think the only fatality was when the AC skidded off of the icy runway in chicago, and hit a car. One person in the car died, but none of the passengers were injured.

Wasn´t this accident in Baltimore?

As additional info:Southwest has one of the best incident rates! SWA: 1.5 incidents per 1,000,000 takeoffs. Compare that to 11.6 for Frontier, 12.5 for Midwest, 8.1 for Alaska, 6.5 for United, 4.6 for Continental, 3.8 for Delta, etcPlus this doesn't count the regional airlines. So United's figure of 6.5 only includes their mainline jets. Their regional carriers are listed separately. So PSA for example has 3.6, and you have to consider that when thinking about airline safety as well. So all said, all airlines are pretty safe, but SWA is one of the safest!

Had´t this accident been in Baltimore?

No, Chicago Midway. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwest_Airlines_Flight_1248

No, Chicago Midway. http://en.wikipedia....nes_Flight_1248

Then I had been wrong. However SWA is very secure.

That must have been very exciting!