On April 17 , 2018 , while Shults was captain in command of Flight 1380 from New York to Dallas , an engine fan blade on the Boeing 737 failed and flying debris damaged the left side of the fuselage and one side window ; the window failed , causing the plane to decompress . One passenger was partially sucked through the damaged window and was later pronounced dead at the hospital . Shults made an emergency descent and landed in Philadelphia . Her actions , calm demeanor , and competence during the emergency were noted by Southwest Airlines officials and passengers as well as Chesley Sullenberger , another commercial airline and former military pilot who controlled a similar situation in 2009 on US Airways Flight 1549
Flight 1380
Southwest Airlines Flight 1380
Tammie Jo Shults