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US regulator orders inspection of jet engines after Southwest tragedy

Inspections of jet engines in the US are to be ordered after a mid-air explosion punctured a Southwest Airlines’ aircraft window, killing a passenger.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the “airworthiness directive” will require inspections of a large number of CFM56-7B engines.

Fan blades that have undegone a certain number of flights will be given ultrasonic tests.

A female passenger died after being nearly sucked out of the cabin.

Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 from New York to Dallas with 149 people on board was forced to make an emergency landing at Philadelphia airport on Tuesday.

The CFM56-7B engine is in use on more than 8,000 Boeing 737s worldwide, the manufacturer says.

The FAA said its order for engine inspections would be issued within the next two weeks.

Other airlines with aircraft fitted with CFM56-7B engines, including United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, said they had begun inspecting some of their aircraft, the BBC reported.

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