The following physical injuries may be associated with decompression incidents : Modern aircraft are specifically designed with longitudinal and circumferential reinforcing ribs in order to prevent localised damage from tearing the whole fuselage open during a decompression incident . However , decompression events have nevertheless proved fatal for aircraft in other ways . In 1974 , explosive decompression onboard Turkish Airlines Flight 981 caused the floor to collapse , severing vital flight control cables in the process . The FAA issued an Airworthiness Directive the following year requiring manufacturers of wide-body aircraft to strengthen floors so that they could withstand the effects of in-flight decompression caused by an opening of up to in the lower deck cargo compartment . Manufacturers were able to comply with the Directive either by strengthening the floors and/or installing relief vents called " dado panels " between the passenger cabin and the cargo compartment
Turkish Airlines Flight 981
Turkish Airlines Flight 981
Uncontrolled decompression