The incident regarding the Southwest Airlines plane which blew an engine...the rest of the story..The heroic pilot who calmly landed a Southwest Airlines flight after a midair explosion caused a woman to be nearly sucked out of the aircraft, leaving one dead, has been identified. Tammie Jo Shults, a former Navy fighter pilot and one of the first women to fly an F-18, quickly brought the Dallas-bound Southwest Flight 1380 to land at Philadelphia International at 11.30am after the explosion at 32,000ft. I lift my glass to you! She is the pilot on the left in the photo.
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sureshotbob
Member
Thanks for putting a face to a tragic story.
Here is a recording of the ATC communications. Remarkably calm and professional. Southwest 1380 - KPHL Approach by WhyHelicopter | Why Helicopter | Free Listening on SoundCloud
The "rest" of the story...
Here it is striking to compare Captain Shults’ plight with that of Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger in his legendary “miracle on the Hudson” landing. Sullenberger lost both engines to a bird strike, but his airplane, the Airbus A320, had “fly-by-wire” controls that gave him an automatic safety margin by restricting the control movements to a computer-dictated “envelope.” In contrast, the flight controls of the Southwest 737, although monitored through computers, remain as they were in the analog age, with the pilot controlling directly through a “yoke.”
And this is where Captain Shults’ background came into play. She was an ex-Navy pilot and one of the first women to fly the “Top Gun” F-18 Hornet, eventually becoming an instructor. Landing supersonic jets on the decks of aircraft carriers is one of the most demanding skills in military aviation. Now, flying on the one engine called for her to use all of her “seat of the pants” instincts to nurse the jet to the runway. Let's see Tom Cruise do that (Top Gun)..okay, that was only a movie.
Here it is striking to compare Captain Shults’ plight with that of Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger in his legendary “miracle on the Hudson” landing. Sullenberger lost both engines to a bird strike, but his airplane, the Airbus A320, had “fly-by-wire” controls that gave him an automatic safety margin by restricting the control movements to a computer-dictated “envelope.” In contrast, the flight controls of the Southwest 737, although monitored through computers, remain as they were in the analog age, with the pilot controlling directly through a “yoke.”
And this is where Captain Shults’ background came into play. She was an ex-Navy pilot and one of the first women to fly the “Top Gun” F-18 Hornet, eventually becoming an instructor. Landing supersonic jets on the decks of aircraft carriers is one of the most demanding skills in military aviation. Now, flying on the one engine called for her to use all of her “seat of the pants” instincts to nurse the jet to the runway. Let's see Tom Cruise do that (Top Gun)..okay, that was only a movie.
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SC_Mike
Member
The right person, in the right place, at the right time.
Very cool calm and collect lady, I’d fly on her aircraft anytime! I really have to applaud her expertise in this situation! 
Supposedly that aircraft did its turn around over our County and some of the aircraft was dropped in a small town near here. This has not been truly confirmed but a lot of people have made claim to seeing a large airliner fly over head at a low altitude yesterday. This would be on a flight path to Philadelphia.
Our local airport I believe does not have a long enough runway to handle this size aircraft in an emergency situation.
I do know that Air Force 1’s twin does do practice touch and go landings here though.
Supposedly that aircraft did its turn around over our County and some of the aircraft was dropped in a small town near here. This has not been truly confirmed but a lot of people have made claim to seeing a large airliner fly over head at a low altitude yesterday. This would be on a flight path to Philadelphia.
Our local airport I believe does not have a long enough runway to handle this size aircraft in an emergency situation.
I do know that Air Force 1’s twin does do practice touch and go landings here though.
italiansport
Member
Good job on her part. My understanding is that all multi-engined commercial jets are designed to fly with only one engine in an emergency.
Jim
Jim
Tradewind36
US Veteran
Great job, Captain, I would expect nothing less from a Naval Aviator. Complex emergency, loss of both an engine and pressurization, the 737 will fly with one engine as will other twin engine airplanes.
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steveno
Member
SWA 1380 atc and the CFM56 engine
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnSizWZVyD4[/ame]
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNZjPjY4bJw[/ame]
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnSizWZVyD4[/ame]
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNZjPjY4bJw[/ame]
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SW Airlines Pilot
Just listened to radio traffic associated with the SW Airlne incident. Apparently you can find this, if you know where to look.
CAPT was former Navy pilot, one of the first female navy pilots.
Listening to her commicating with air traffic control she sounds like she is describing paint drying. Not a hint of nerves. Cool as a cucumber.
Take a listen
Southwest 1380 (engine failure 4/17/2018) ENTIRE EVENT: actual multi-sector ATC audio - YouTube
Just listened to radio traffic associated with the SW Airlne incident. Apparently you can find this, if you know where to look.
CAPT was former Navy pilot, one of the first female navy pilots.
Listening to her commicating with air traffic control she sounds like she is describing paint drying. Not a hint of nerves. Cool as a cucumber.
Take a listen
Southwest 1380 (engine failure 4/17/2018) ENTIRE EVENT: actual multi-sector ATC audio - YouTube
Interesting thread, my wife was a flight attendant for 23 years and always was happy to fly with ex-military pilots. They had great experience and she thought they had done all their panicking in the military and would be calm in another emergency.
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If something like this happened.....
...when I was on a flight, I'd be very happy to have someone with her background flying the plane.
...when I was on a flight, I'd be very happy to have someone with her background flying the plane.
Most impressive.
When she switched Tammi wished ATC a good day and said "Hello tower".
Very cool cat.
When she switched Tammi wished ATC a good day and said "Hello tower".
Very cool cat.
joeintexas
US Veteran
The local news here last night was reporting that she had her flight training here in Pensacola at Pensacola Naval Air Station, home of the Navy's Blue Angels. I suspect she got some excellent training which she obviously retained. My hats off to that lady.
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