US plane horror: Terrified dad tells of sending messages to family and unborn son

Image: Joe Marcus / @joeasaprap

A woman has been killed on a US airline flight after shrapnel from a blown engine smashed through her window.

Passengers on the Southwest Boeing 737 say they heard a loud bang before the cabin starting losing pressure.

“(I told) my wife and parents that I love them and what I wanted to pass on to my unborn son.”
– Passenger Matt Tranchin

Several other passengers were injured, with the flight forced to make an emergency landing at Philadelphia.

One of the flight’s passengers, Matt Tranchin, told 3AW’s Tony Jones of “mass hysteria” and “sheer panic”.

“Flight attendants came to the window and one of them became hysterical, given what she just saw,” he said.

“Seeing the ashes whip around you was a reminder about just how precarious the situation was.”

Fearing he would die, Mr Tranchin text messaged a goodbye to his family, including a message for his unborn child.

“(I told) my wife and parents that I love them and what I wanted to pass on to my unborn son.

“You don’t want to scare your loved ones unnecessarily but you also don’t want to pass up that opportunity.”

Click PLAY to hear more from Mr Tranchin

If this ends up being the opening scene to Final Destination 13, I’m going to be really salty. #Flight1380 pic.twitter.com/feK7cPZS70

— Matt Tranchin (@mtranchin) April 17, 2018

What a flight! Made it!! Still here!! #southwest #flight1380 pic.twitter.com/Cx2mqoXVzY

— Joe Marcus (@joeasaprap) April 17, 2018

JUST IN: Images show the destruction of a reported engine explosion aboard a Southwest Airlines flight heading from NYC to Dallas, several injuries have been reported (Photos courtesy of Marty Martinez) https://t.co/s2TtP2Mw6Z pic.twitter.com/8fkNgK9p0R

— FOX 5 DC (@fox5dc) April 17, 2018

US reporter Bob Tarlau said the killed woman was partially sucked out of her window after shrapnel smashed through.

Click PLAY for a full report from Bob Tarlau in the US