Aviation regulators demand emergency engine inspections following Southwest accident

United States and European aviation officials have ordered expedited inspections for airplane engines similar to the one that failed on a Southwest Airlines flight earlier this week and left one woman dead.

CNN reported Saturday that that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency ordered a full ultrasonic review of certain CFM56-7B engines in the next day 20 days.

The FAA estimated the review will involve 352 engines in the United States, and 681 engines worldwide. 

The engine manufacturer, CFM, also issued a statement on Saturday saying that type of engine should be inspected more frequently moving forward.

NEWS: CFM International issues new service bulletin to #CFM56-7B operators: https://t.co/Nc335KKe05 pic.twitter.com/ZlXiQhgUq0

— CFM International (@CFM_engines) April 20, 2018

{mosads}A CFM56 engine failed on a Southwest Airlines flight this week, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing. 

The flight had 144 passengers onboard, including a woman who died from injuries sustained when a piece of the engine shattered a window, leading to her being partly sucked out of the aircraft.

The National Transportation Safety Board said following the incident that the plane’s engine had “metal fatigue,” and portions of it had separated from the plane mid-flight.

Southwest announced following the crash it would carry out inspections of similar engines over the next 30 days.