American Airlines Boeing 757 makes emergency landing as walls pop loose
Passengers horrified as American Airlines flight strikes pressurisation-related problems
A Dallas-bound American Airlines flight that departed from San Francisco turned around and made an emergency landing after cabin wall panels cracked loose.
The Boeing 757 turned around an hour into the flight to Dallas because of a possible blown air duct, American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller said.
Flight 2293 departed from the San Francisco airport shortly before 1pm and landed without incident about 2.15pm. No one on the plane carrying 184 passengers and six crew members was hurt, he said. Even though the plane's problem was related to pressurisation, the cabin did not lose pressure and oxygen masks did not activate, he said.
James Wilson, of Kyle, Texas, said he and his fellow passengers knew there was a problem within minutes after the flight's takeoff from San Francisco.
Wilson, 32, an amateur racing car driver, said passengers felt the fuselage shake and heard popping noises coming from outside the Boeing as it made its initial ascent.
Then they watched in horror and screamed for flight attendants as interior panels on both sides of the aircraft pulled away from the walls.