[userbinator]

The AVherald article: http://avherald.com/h?article=4bedd321&opt=0

As some of the others have mentioned, the reason the plane survived is likely because that was not a pressurised area. If it had breached the pressure vessel they would've noticed it very quickly (lack of pressurisation).

[InTheArena]

Not really - If there had a been a gash in pressurization, they would have caught it on the way up. The 737 is a _tank_. It has more or less the same wing load as a F-16. It takes a lot to shake around - it's every bit the 1950s build 707 chassis, and like the old 50s lathe - it can take a hit and keep going.

[wahern]

Plenty of 737's have had explosive depressurization with injuries or fatalities, most recently this year

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43818752

and one of the most famous incidents (in the U.S.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloha_Airlines_Flight_243

Both were from fatigue, but fatigue doesn't have to be a gradual thing; it could come from a single hit that causes the pressure vessel to fail at altitude.

See the whole list here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncontrolled_decompression#Not...

[TylerE]

The difference is that happens at altitude. When the plane has just taken off there is no pressure differential. There’s no energy TO explode.

[wahern]

Damage can be less severe than an actual puncture of the pressure vessel. Damage can weaken the pressure vessel such that it only fails (possibly explosively) once under pressure.

[jacquesm]

And yet, it landed!

[wahern]

Indeed, but the two previous posters were discussing counter-factuals.

[inferiorhuman]

Don't the NGs have a nasty habit of splitting in two on hard landings (KI172, 4C8250, BW523, JT904, AA331)?

[nutcracker46]

Luckily for this flight, that they didn't damage the pressure vessel and then blow it out at high altitude. Better to stay low, not pressurize, and land "at the nearest suitable airport."

[FabHK]

Yeah, the decision of the pilots to ascend to higher altitude, ie lower pressures (ie pressurising the plane) is very questionable.

Edit: clarify, typo

[skookumchuck]

The airplane does not require pressurization to fly. If the cabin fails to pressurize, there'd be an automatic warning and the pilots would put on oxygen masks and lower the altitude.