Torn Southwest plane takes first flight since emergency landing

A Southwest Airlines jet that had to make an emergency landing in Yuma, Ariz., after a hole ripped open its fuselage was flown for the first time this week, airline officials confirmed to the Hill.

The plane had no passengers, but was flown to Dallas for more repairs. It will eventually be flown to North or South Carolina, Southwest said Thursday.

The plane, a Boeing 737-300, was in flight from Phoenix to Sacramento, Calif., on April 1 when a large hole opened up in the fuselage roof, necessitating an emergency landing. There were 118 passengers and five Southwest employees on the plane, but no one was hurt.

The Federal Aviation Administration responded to the incident by mandating that all airlines inspect their older 737s.

Southwest began an inspection voluntarily before the FAA order, resulting in hundreds of delays as 79 planes were checked. Five were found to have similar cracks and were taken out of service.