What Causes an Airliner to Rupture Mid-Flight (and How Can This Be Prevented)?

The 1.5-meter-long gash that opened up in the upper cabin of Friday’s Southwest Airlines Flight 812 from Phoenix to Sacramento will have a deep impact on the nature and frequency of commercial aircraft maintenance. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a directive on Tuesday ordering about 175 Boeing 737 aircraft–80 of which are registered in the U.S., most of those operated by Southwest–to be inspected using an electromagnetic device that can identify metal fatigue. [More]

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What Causes an Airliner to Rupture Mid-Flight (and How Can This Be Prevented)?