Author Topic: Southwest Faces Cabin Pressure Issues, Leaves Passenger Bleeding From Ears  (Read 2511 times)

Offline KB4TEZ

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https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/southwest-faces-cabin-pressure-issues-leaves-passenger-bleeding-from-ears/ar-BBT9Y9s

A Southwest Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Connecticut Friday after a cabin pressure issue left at least one passenger bleeding from the ears.

According to The Associated Press, Southwest Flight 1694 had just taken off from Hartford en route to Tampa International Airport in Florida when the captain was forced to call for an emergency landing at Bradley International Airport at 9:11 p.m. local time.

The incident was reportedly caused by the apparent depressurization of the cabin, which resulted in several passengers experiencing ear pain and injuries, including one actually bleeding from the ears.

The Federal Aviation Administration said ambulances were dispatched to the Connecticut airport and several passengers were treated on the scene. Despite one passenger left bleeding, authorities announced there were no serious injuries.

A Southwest spokesperson said the Boeing 737 was removed from service and the 139 impacted passengers were accommodated on another aircraft.



Offline KB4TEZ

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Why Do Some Passengers’ Ears Bleed When Plane Cabins Have Pressure Issues?
« Reply #1 on: February 07, 2019, 11:09:45 AM »
Update:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/article/why-do-some-passengers-ears-bleed-when-plane-cabins-have-pressure-issues/ar-BBTgiFa?li=BBnbklE

Last Friday, an issue with the pressure in the cabin of a Southwest Airlines flight forced the aircraft to return to its airport of origin, Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport (BDL). Part of the reason the flight turned around, the Hartford Courant reported, was because passengers’ ears were in pain.
At least one passenger was bleeding from the ears, and emergency medical professionals met the flight when it landed. Several passengers were treated at the airport.

Southwest removed the Boeing 737 from service and simply said the aircraft “experienced a pressurization issue shortly after takeoff. Our flight crew followed proper procedures and returned to BDL, where it landed safely. Some customers, among the 139 onboard, were treated for discomfort by local paramedics.”“The aircraft apparently flew up to 10,000 feet MSL [Mean Sea Level] before diverting,” Curtis said. “Given this altitude limitation, and the fact that the 737 typically pressurizes to around 8,000 feet MSL, the problem was likely related to the aircraft not being able to maintain the appropriate cabin pressure.”

Usually to maintain a comfortable cabin pressure, 737s rely on a two systems.

“On a 737 there are two air-conditioning pressurizations systems, a left and a right bleed air source (the compressor section of the engine) and a pack to cool the compressed air,” John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems, told TPG. “Either system will keep the airplane pressurized. The 737 pressurization system does not fail very often.”

Those pressurization systems, however, do have valves that can malfunction and cause a sudden change in pressure.

“Airplane cabin pressure is managed by valves that control the outflow of air from the cabin to the atmosphere,” former Boeing engineer Peter Lemme told TPG. “Cabin pressure is managed automatically by controlling the outflow valve. A valve malfunction or control error could cause pressure to change rapidly. There are other relief valves in the cabin that operate to protect from overpressure or from negative pressure.”

Normally, pilots do not manage cabin pressurization altitude directly, Lemme noted. As for the bleeding, Lemme says the sudden change in pressure can damage the ear drum.

“The human ear has tubes that allow equalization of the air on the back side of the ear drum,” he explained. “Rapid pressure changes can overwhelm the ear and cause the drum to rupture.”

Sounds like a painful experience, but fortunately, one that is not too common on board typical passenger aircraft.