NTSB: Cracks found in 3 grounded Southwest planes

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NTSB: Cracks found in 3 grounded Southwest planes


By BOB CHRISTIE, Associated Press Bob Christie, Associated Press – 2 hrs 12 mins ago
YUMA, Ariz. – Three more Southwest Airlines jetliners have small, subsurface cracks that are similar to the cracks suspected of playing a role in the fuselage tear of a Boeing 737-300, causing the aircraft to lose pressure and forcing a frightening emergency landing, officials said.

The 5-foot-long hole tore open in the passenger cabin roof area shortly after the plane left Phoenix for Sacramento, Calif., Friday afternoon. None of the 118 people aboard was seriously hurt as the plane descended from 34,400 feet to a military base in Yuma, 150 miles southwest of Phoenix.

Since then Southwest grounded its 79 other Boeing 737-300s and began inspecting them.

Sunday night, another Southwest Boeing jet was diverted, this time because of a burning electrical smell in the passenger cabin, Southwest and Los Angeles International Airport officials said.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_southwest_flight_diverted