

Russian Plane Crash 2018: Saratov Airlines Flight 703 Expanded safety checks could offer an additional layer of protection for the estimated 2.6 million travelers who fly in and out of U.S airports every day. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the Southwest Airline Flight 1380 tragedy with an updated airworthiness directive which expanded the examination of engines and required repeat inspections. Airline safety advocates have since called for additional inspection of engines and blades, including ultrasonic pre-flight checks. Over the following 12 to 15 months, various boards and associations will perform investigations to get a better picture of what exactly went wrong and how such a disaster can be avoided in the future.Įarly investigations have concluded that one of the engine’s 24 blades broke off, which led to engine failure and the ensuing damage to the aircraft. In the hours, days and months that followed, many passengers suffered from PTSD and began seeking compensation for emotional distress given the traumatic situation they experienced.

Once passengers were accounted for and departed the damaged aircraft, there were many questions left unanswered, and traumatized passengers attempted to make their way back to loved ones. Tragically, Riordan ultimately died from the injuries she sustained as a result of the incident.Ĭaptain Tammie Jo Schults was able to land the plane 36 minutes after take-off.

Jennifer Riordan from row 14 was seated right by the shattered window and had half of her body sucked out of the plane from the strength of the wind’s suction. Matters only became worse when metal pieces from the engine broke open one of the plane’s windows, bringing in a rush of wind and airborne debris. The surviving 148 passengers and crew members remember entering a complete state of panic as the plane headed down. Damage to the left engine caused the aircraft to take a steep left turn and begin a terrifying descent. Specifically, the crash drew attention to the dangers surrounding aircraft fan blades which were linked to this horrible accident.Īt 32,000 feet in the air, just 20 minutes after take-off, Southwest Airlines Flight 1380’s left engine failed and began to fall apart.

Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 highlighted the urgency to adopt more stringent inspections of airline equipment. Southwest Airlines Flight 1380: The First In-Air Fatality in the Airlines’ History In this post, we’ll examine the major plane crashes from 2018 to determine whether the sharp increase in fatalities was an anomaly or a sign of things to come. This explosion in demand will present a number of challenges for the airline industry which impact passenger safety, including a shortage of qualified pilots, increased ground congestion, aging aircraft and additional demands on pilots to keep up with advances in technology and automation. With the increase in low-cost options, a rise in disposable income, and more working-age adults flying for both business and pleasure, air travel is expected to double worldwide over the next two decades. During those 12 months alone, there were more than 500 deaths related to air travel, which is a tremendous spike in comparison to the 44 lives lost in 2017. Understandably, plane crashes in 2018 dominated the headlines.
