Martinez, a witness on the plane, livestreamed footage of passengers receiving oxygen after the window exploded.

The Boeing 737, number 1380 of Southwest Airlines, USA, was flying over New York yesterday when an engine exploded, shooting out metal fragments that broke the window glass and damaged the fuselage.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the plane crashed while carrying 149 people.

`Suddenly we heard a loud explosion and the plane began to shake. The explosion completely tore off the left engine, it was scary,` another passenger on the plane said.

`It felt like we were free-falling more than 30 meters in the blink of an eye. It seemed like the plane had lost control, and the pilot had a lot of difficulty regaining control. Actually, I think everyone around us was scared.`

Amy Serafini and Hollie MacKay, two passengers sitting behind Riordan, said something was thrown from the engine after the explosion and shattered the window.

`This is a sad day, and we send our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the deceased. We will do everything we can to support them during this difficult time,` Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly

`There was blood everywhere. Everyone was going crazy, everyone was screaming,` said Marty Martniez, a witness on the plane.

`I just remember holding my husband’s hand tightly, constantly praying,` said Amanda Bourman, a New York passenger.

The glass door broke, sucking a woman out, but passengers pulled her back.

Bourman sat near the back and was sleeping when he heard a loud noise and an oxygen mask falling from the ceiling.

Martinez broadcast the mask-wearing scene live via Facebook.

`I got Wifi, I knew text messaging wasn’t possible in this situation, so I turned on live TV,` Martinez said.

Smoke poured into the plane through broken windows, making it difficult to breathe with an oxygen mask.

After the plane landed, he posted a photo of the broken window near the engine online.

A US passenger plane’s engine exploded mid-air, killing one person

Passengers breathe oxygen.

Bourman saw medical staff using a defibrillator to help a woman who had just been taken off the plane.

Passengers `responded wonderfully in this difficult situation,` said Philadelphia Fire Chief Adam Thiel.

Data from FlightAware.com shows that Flight 1380 was heading west while flying over southern New York at an altitude of 9,800 meters at a speed of more than 800 km/h and suddenly changed direction toward Philadelphia.

The engine exploded, shattering the window glass and damaging part of the fuselage.