Southwest Airlines CEO says the family of deceased passenger is our 'immediate and primary concern'

  • Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly issued a video message on Tuesday in reaction to the death of a passenger on board Flight 1380.

  • Kelly expressed his sympathies to the family and loved ones of the deceased passenger.

  • He also pledged his airline's support for the National Transpiration Safety Board's investigation.


Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the passenger who was fatally injured on board Flight 1380 on Tuesday in a video message posted to YouTube.

"On behalf of the Southwest family, I want to extend my deepest sympathies for the family and the loved ones of our deceased customer," Kelly said. "They are our immediate and primary concern and we will do all that we can to support them during this difficult time."

In addition, the Southwest CEO thanked the airport staff and first responders in Philadelphia as well as the stricken flight's crew.

Kelly also pledged to give his airline's "full support and cooperation" to the National Transportation Safety Board and its investigation. The identity of the deceased passenger has not been released.

Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport after suffering a catastrophic un-contained engine failure.

The flight was en route from LaGuardia Airport in New York to Love Field in Dallas, Texas.

Shrapnel from the disintegrating engine puncture the fuselage of the Boeing 737-700 and caused the cabin to depressurize.

The incident led to the death of one passenger while seven others were treated for minor injuries.

The Boeing 737 was powered by a pair of CFM International CFM56-7B turbofan engines.

In a separate statement, CFM International also expressed its condolences to the family of the deceased passenger while affirming its commitment to assisting the NTSB in its investigation.

The CFM56-7B is one of the most popular turbofan engines in the world and can be found on more than 6,700 airliners around the world.

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