A passenger was "in a fight with our flight attendant right now, trying to open the emergency exit," the pilot radioed the tower at Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids.
When they come off the aeroplane at the end of the day, there's tears of emotion. You hear things like, 'I'm a changed woman thank you so much, I can go and visit my grandchildren in Australia'.
Duffy's attempt to justify changing his wife's flight fueled debate over Newark's safety, sparking criticism and a clarification from the DOT about scheduling, not safety.
'I thought I was gonna die,' said Amy Stamper, a passenger from Tennessee. 'I was scared. I thought I was gonna die. There were a couple of small explosions. And there was a fire.'
ABC reporter Mark Willacy was onboard the flight, noting a large bang and sharp shudder during takeoff. The plane struggled to gain altitude, indicating something was amiss. Following this alarming incident, the aircraft established a loop and returned to Sydney, guided by the calm commands of the flight crew who explained the engine situation to passengers. Their reassurance and adherence to emergency protocols were pivotal during this distressing event.