Loved Ones Mourn Bank Executive Killed After Southwest Flight Engine Blows Mid-Air
Riordan was a vice president of community relations for Wells Fargo bank. She was the wife of Michael Riordan, who served until recently as the chief operating officer for the city of Albuquerque.
By NBC10 Staff ••
We are learning more about Jennifer Riordan, the woman killed in the Southwest Airlines engine explosion. She is being remembered for the people she impacted during her life.
Jennifer Riordan was well known in New Mexico, where she had built a career over more than two decades in community relations and communications after graduating from the University of New Mexico.
Gov. Susana Martinez called Riordan "an incredible woman who put her family and community first," and said her loss would be felt across the state.
"The hearts of all New Mexicans are with the Riordan family," Martinez said in a statement on Tuesday.
State Attorney General Hector Balderas called Riordan a dear friend.
"I was honored to work with her on financial literacy issues for over a decade," said Balderas. "Jennifer was exceptionally active and passionate in working to improve our community, and I express our sincerest condolences to her husband and children."
A mid-air engine explosion led to a woman’s death and an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport. Passengers who were on board described the terrifying ordeal.
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Riordan was one of 149 people on board Southwest flight 1380, which took off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport en route to Dallas, on Tuesday, but made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport after the jet blew an engine. The Boeing 737-700 was about 20 minutes into its journey when the engine burst, sending debris flying through the air and smashing one of the windows.
Passengers described hearing a loud explosion from the left engine — one of two onboard — before debris peppered the fuselage and shattered a window. Riordan was pulled out of the plane up to her waist before being pulled back in by passengers.
Passengers performed CPR on Riordan, who was later pronounced dead at an area hospital.
New Mexico Broadcasters Association
Jennifer Riordan
News of Riordan’s death was first shared by the assistant principal of the Albuquerque Catholic school attended by her two children.
In an email to parents, assistant principal Amy McCarty wrote that “the family needs all the prayers we can offer.”
Riordan was a vice president of community relations for Wells Fargo bank and was in charge of managing employee volunteer and board service to nonprofit groups in New Mexico and parts of Texas. She also served on numerous boards and oversaw the annual United Way community campaign.
Mayor Tim Keller said his thoughts and prayers were with Riordan's family.
"Today, Albuquerque lost a thoughtful leader who has long been part of the fabric of our community," Keller said in a statement.
Keller said Riordan's leadership and philanthropic efforts "made this a better place every day and she will be terribly missed."
She was married to Michael Riordan, who served until recently as the chief operating officer for the city of Albuquerque, for more than 20 years.
Tuesday night, Riordan’s family released a statement on her behalf. It reads in part:
Jennifer’s vibrancy, passion and love infused our community and reached across our country. Her impact on everything and everyone she touched can never be fully measured. But foremost, she is the bedrock of our family. She and Mike wrote a love story unlike any other. Her beauty and love is evident through her children. We are so appreciative of the outpouring of support from family, friends and our community. We do ask that those who seek to express their condolences and prayers as well as media outlets respect our privacy at this time. Our family and friends need this time to both grieve and celebrate Jennifer’s impact on us all. In her memory--please remember to always be kind, loving, caring, and sharing.
Marty Martinez via Storyful
Shrapnel from a blown out engine, left, broke a window on a New York to Dallas flight out of Laguardia on April 17, 2018.
Marty Martinez via Storyful
Marty Martinez, left, and other passengers of a Southwest Airlines flight from New York to Dallas are seen during the flight's descent on April 17, 2018. Shrapnel from a damaged engine took out a window twenty minutes into the flight, causing a passenger to be partially sucked out of the plane. One person died from the incident.
Marty Martinez via Storyful
A blown out window is seen in this photo of a damaged Southwest Airlines flight flying from New York to Dallas on April 17, 2018. One person died when an engine exploded mid-flight from New York to Dallas, causing the plane to rapidly lose pressure and a passenger to get partially sucked out.
Marty Martinez via Storyful
Shrapnel from a damaged engine, seen here, took out a window twenty minutes into the flight, causing a passenger to be partially sucked out of the plane on a flight from New York to Dallas on April 17, 2018.
Marty Martinez via Storyful
A blown out window and oxygen masks are seen in this photo of a damaged Southwest Airlines flight flying from New York to Dallas on April 17, 2018.
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A window appears to be broken. See Larger
Corey Perrine/AP
A Southwest Airlines plane sits on the runway at the Philadelphia International Airport after it made an emergency landing in Philadelphia, on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. The Federal Aviation Administration says the flight from New York to Dallas made an emergency landing after the crew reported damage to one of the engines, as well as the fuselage and at least one window.
Matt Tranchin
Passenger Matt Tranchin snapped this photo of the damaged window. Tranchin said he texted family members to say goodbye as the plane descended. Once the plane landed, "there was a lot of hugging."
@abourman
Amanda Bouman posted this photo of the damaged engine on Instagram
SkyForce10
A close up of the broken window.
@EMMS_MrJohnson
@EMMS_MrJohnson shared this photo of the damaged engine on Southwest 1380.
SkyForce10
A foam was sprayed onto the plane and runway.
SkyForce10
People could be seen exiting the plane and getting onto waiting buses.
Sandra Vasich
SkyForce10
One window appeared to be broken.
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A blown engine on a Southwest flight from LaGuardia to Dallas that made an emergency landing in Philadelphia.
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No word yet on the extent of injuries.
Courtney Padilla
A passenger photo shows emergency vehicles on the tarmac in Philadelphia after a Southwest plane was forced to land mid-flight after an engine explosion on April 17, 2018.
Courtney Padilla
A passenger photo shows damage to one of the plane's engines on April 17, 2018.
Courtney Padilla
A passenger photo shows oxygen masks, which were lowered when cabin pressure dropped on a Southwest flight from New York to Dallas on April 17, 2018, after an engine exploded mid-flight.
Courtney Padilla
A passenger photo shows airline staff in the aisle after the plane landed following a mid-flight engine explosion on April 17, 2018.
Vito Di Stefano
Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board inspect the plane's damaged engine.
Taylor patino
Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board inspect the plane's damaged engine.
Vito Di Stefano
Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board inspect the plane's damaged engine.
NTSB
"Lead NTSB investigator Bill English receives Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder from Southwest Airlines flight," the NTSB said.
NTSB
Investigators with the NTSB examine a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 after a catastrophic engine failure resulted in the death of a passenger Tuesday, April 17, 2018.
NTSB
The wing above the engine showed damage.
The Reading Eagle
Members of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania State Police and game warden lift a piece of an aircraft engine believed to be from Southwest Airlines flight 1380 on Tuesday, April 18, 2018. The part was discovered a day after the plane's left engine exploded in flight over rural Berks County, Pa.
Reading Eagle
Investigators photograph a piece of debris with what appears to be part of the Southwest logo on it. See Larger
Members of the broadcast community shared their condolences on social media, remembering the volunteer efforts and community outreach spurred by Riordan through her many roles in the community.
In a tweet, the New Mexico Broadcasters Association expressed its heartbreak over Riordan's death, noting that she was a former board member and scholarship winner.
Riordan also served on the boards of Junior Achievement of New Mexico, New Mexico First and The Catholic Foundation.
