The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says a Southwest flight attendant suffered a serious injury during an emergency evacuation in Houston earlier this year, following engine trouble on a Boeing 737 bound for Mexico.
The April 17 flight, operating as Southwest 3006 from Houston Hobby to Los Cabos, Mexico, turned back shortly after takeoff when the crew noticed abnormal readings from the right engine and heard a loud “popping” sound. The pilots declared an emergency and returned to Hobby.
According to the report, flight attendants later noticed a burning odor in the cabin. After landing and stopping on a taxiway, the captain ordered an evacuation when the smell persisted. Passengers exited using the aircraft’s slides and overwing exits. One flight attendant fractured an ankle during the process while helping passengers off the plane.
The report notes that the aircraft’s captain and first officer followed all appropriate checklists before landing. After the evacuation began, the first officer exited the aircraft to assist on the ground while the captain remained on board until all passengers and crew had left.
Some passengers were seen re-entering through the overwing exits after firefighters on the scene directed them back onto the aircraft over concerns about slide-related injuries.
The 2009-built Boeing 737-700, registered as N7724A, was undamaged and later inspected by maintenance crews.
