Southwest begins probe into fatal engine explosion

Investigation under way after an exploded engine at 32,000ft led to the death of a woman who was partially sucked out of a blown-out window hit by the debris, the first passenger death in the airlines 50-year history.

Air investigators in the United States say a crack inside a jet engine caused Tuesday’s fatal accident on a Southwest Airlines flight.

Shrapnel – after it broke up – smashed a window, causing a woman passenger to be partially sucked out of the plane, who later died.

US airline regulators will issue an order for similar engines to be inspected in the next six months.

Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher reports.