(CNN) - appointed found "widespread cracking" on the skin of the Southwest Airlines Boeing 737, an emergency landing in Arizona, after a hole on the plane during the flight, opened Friday, a National Transportation Safety Board Member said Sunday.
A flight attendant received minor injuries when the hole open and the cabin 18 minutes without pressure, after the aircraft of Phoenix flew bound for Sacramento, California, NTSB member Robert Sumwalt told reporters.
The flight data recorder indicated that the aircraft at 36,000 feet was cruise, if it without pressure, but it within 4 1/2 minutes to 11,000 filed, Sumwalt said.
The pilot initially planned, to Phoenix land back, but according to the flight attendants reported roof see blue sky through the Jet made an emergency landing at a military base in Yuma, Arizona, said Sumwalt.
The initial inspection found "clear evidence that the skin in the lower rivet a separate" where "the skin comes together on the plane," said Sumwalt.
The cracking would probably not be visible during routine inspections, but could Sumwalt observed if the aircraft underwent maintenance is important and was dismantled in March 2010, said.
He said the hole was opened up to 5 meters long and 1 foot wide.
Southwest mechanics removed the section of the level with the hole cut and send it overnight to the NTSB laboratory in Washington, the Board said.
Southwest grounded 79 of his aircraft for inspection for "aircraft skin fatigue" Saturday.
As of Sunday afternoon were 19 aircraft service to "intensive inspection," again, the airline said in a statement. "Small, subsurface cracks" or evidence of cracks were discovered in three other aircraft.
"Further assessment and potential repairs are needed, before these aircraft returned to service," said the statement.
The additional cracks found Sunday were not more than 1/4 inch in size, the NTSB said.
The controls of the remaining aircraft are expected to be completed by late Tuesday.
Boeing sends a service bulletin to airlines with recommendations about how their aircraft for similar cracks inspect the NTSB said Sunday.
Southwest canceled Saturday and Sunday at the inspections accommodate about 300 flights. It advised customers to check the status of their particular flight or rebook their trip before you to the airport.
Representatives of the NTSB, the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing and the airline to investigate the aircraft structure, metallurgical aspects of the plane, flight data recording and its maintenance records in team organized Sumwalt said.
In the meantime, some of the 118 passengers who were on board who said the crippled Boeing 737 had them for their lives were afraid.
"We were shocked," said passenger Debbie Downey CNN Saturday. "We were in line 16 and my husband and I could see, blue sky... the wiring, cabling." "It was really frightening."
She said: "A lot of people were crying and hands" but had difficulties hearing due to the noise of the air through the open level. "It was very, very scary."
"I have heard, a loud popping sound around three or four minutes before it blew open on us," Greg Hansen said passenger.
"(Then) was a major explosion." A big noise, and from there, you felt some of the air will be sucked out. It happened right behind me, in the row behind me and covers about 2 1/2 lines, "he said 11 c. from space"
Hansen, 41, regional sales manager for a biotech company, flew home to Sacramento, California, from a business trip. Some people panicked and screamed as the blue sky and Sun started the cabin midflight shine through, he said.
"Most people were only white ankle on the arms hold." The pilot did a great job and were under control, to a manageable level to get us, "he said."
But behind him, said Hansen, he could see the jagged edge of the aircraft where previously the rivets.
"You can see the isolation and wiring." The interior ceiling panel above and below with the air bounce was, "he said."
"It was surreal, if you are riding in a modern aircraft." They are used, is included and not with Windows rolled, "he said."
Passenger Brenda Reese told CNN affiliate KCRA and KOVR began fear for their lives.
"I was texting my sister set that she told my kids that I loved it," Reese said.
Southwest flight 812, which had a five-member crew, then made an emergency landing on Yuma Marine Corps Air Station / international airport at 5:07 pm (7:07 pm ET.)
The Federal Aviation Administration, said the captain, one fast, controlled descent from 36,000 feet to 11,000 metres lost after the cabin pressure.
Southwest said it provided a full refund, an apology and two free out and return goes to the airline for future flights.
The second flight landed on Friday night in Sacramento.
Boeing spokeswoman Julie was O'Donnell fell to any comment on the causes of the incident.
The company said "Boeing ensuring safe flight and support is committed to our customers," in a statement. "We work closely with Southwest and are Transportation Safety Board providing technical assistance to the US national as it investigated the incident."
A total of 288 Boeing 737-300 are currently in the US fleet and 931 work worldwide, according to the FAA.Journalist Rachel Elzufon contributed to this report.
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