Uncontained engine failure - left engine. Shrapnel shattering cabin window.
Probably semantics, but I don't think it was shrapnel that hit the window. More likely a part of the engine inlet. Debris hits have been evident in many of these events, but they've generally not given this one's bad outcome.
Whilst it's likely that a blade failure will be implicated in this, it's quite possible that it (the blade) was actually contained, but the inlet has subsequently failed.
B737-700
WN1380 LGA-DFW diverted to PHL
Explosive decompression during climb
Max aircraft altitude reached 32500ft
Time to 10000ft 8min
Don’t know how high the cabin altitude achieved
Technically it isn't an explosive decompression, but rather a rapid one.
It was most likely very confusing in the first few moments within the coughpit. The most important event is actually the depressurisation, but it's likely that it was initially the engine failure that would have clamoured for attention. The FR24 time/height trace is quite impressive. They've gotten it down, sorted things as best they could, diverted, and done a single engine landing to a place they weren't intending to go, in about 16 minutes. Excellent work.
How long does it take for cabin altitude to equalise with aircraft altitude during decompression via a 737 window?
You'd have to ask Boeing that one. The remaining pack would have continued to push air into the cabin, as fast as it could. It took 13 seconds for QF30 to depressurise. A much bigger hole, but also much more volume to drain. The crew have been quick getting it going down, so my guess would be a crossover in the mid 20s.
