(CNN) - Southwest Airlines announced on Saturday that 79 aircraft for inspection is ground after a 3-4-foot hole in the hull of one of its aircraft, open crack, a look at the blue sky and a white knuckled emergency exit.
The aircraft-by Phoenix, Sacramento, California travel must - managed, an emergency landing at a military base in Yuma, Arizona, on Friday. It authorities "a hole in the top of the plane discovered," the company said earlier.
Researchers what are trying to determine the "Depressurization event" caused and have "decided, a subset of its Boeing 737 fleet by the flying schedule seek aggressive inspection in cooperation with Boeing engineers, begin to keep" according to a company statement.
"The security of our customers and employees is our primary concern, and we're grateful there were no serious injuries," said Mike van de Ven, Southwest's executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
The airline initially reported that 81 of Boeing 737 aircraft would be grounded, but later fell to the number of aircraft for what it called "aircraft skin fatigue." The inspection is carried out at five locations in the course of which several days, said the airline next.
National transportation safety board member Robert Sumwalt said a preliminary investigation showed that the aircraft suffered a "structural errors" and "Depressurization", asked that the emergency landing.
A subsequent review of the aircraft structure, metallurgical aspects of the plane, flight data recording and its maintenance records will investigate, he said.
"We are at an early stage of the investigation," added Sumwalt.
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."
Hansen described the hole as about 3 or 4 metres long and about a foot wide.
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.
"We know not the cause of the decompression," said Ian Gregor of the FAA.
Hansen, said that the incident occurred about 35 minutes into the flight. He said it took about 45 seconds or minutes until the oxygen masks, fell after blew the hole open.
"The crew was pretty quiet about it." You went around and checked for everyone, "he said." "But it was not like the movies where papers from the hole to get sucked, but you could feel it and the sound to hear."
Hansen, said that most of the passengers of a pain in their eardrums from a fast downhill were complaints.
Southwest Airlines, said that only a violation was reported.
"There are no reported customer violations," according to a statement from the airline published. "One which the flight attendants, however, received a minor injury on the descent."
Hansen, said a male flight attendant was released fall and was bleeding from a breach of the face.
Yuma International Airport spokeswoman gene great said passengers and were given refreshments were, because the temperature on the tarmac close to 100 degrees.
Hansen, said passengers deplaned and aboard another airline Southwest Airlines plane for Sacramento. He said the airline passengers offered accommodation in Yuma, but did not know, if all passengers have us remain.
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 NTSB investigative team arrived Saturday in the Yuma and in the level.
A total of 288 Boeing 737-300 are currently in the US fleet and 931 work worldwide, according to the FAA.CNN's John branch, rich Phillips, Ted Rowlands, Deborah Doft and Greg Morrison on this report contributed
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