Oxygen masks used as Southwest jet loses pressure

Associated Press

DALLAS (AP) — Passengers and crew aboard a Southwest Airlines jet had to wear oxygen masks as the plane lost cabin pressure and safely landed in Dallas.

A Southwest spokeswoman said Monday that Flight 3201 from Kansas City to Dallas landed at Love Field around 7:15 p.m. Saturday. Whitney Eichinger (EYE'-king-er) says the jet carried 124 passengers and five crewmembers. Nobody was hurt.

She says there was a pressurization issue at an altitude of about 35,000 feet so the pilot followed protocol, descended and deployed the oxygen masks. The masks were no longer needed below 10,000 feet.

Passenger David Wilding told WFAA-TV (http://bit.ly/Wfyslr ) that the jet went into a sudden, steep dive and the masks were used for about 20 minutes.

Eichinger says the jet underwent maintenance Sunday and returned to service Monday.

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Information from: WFAA-TV, http://www.wfaa.com