The passenger who was pulled through a Southwest Airlines window at 32,000ft was following safety procedure and wearing a seatbelt, ABC has reported.
Bank executive and mother-of-two Jennifer Riordan, 43, was killed on Tuesday when the window next to her was broken by flying debris from the plane's exploded engine.
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The airline is investigating the cause of the explosion, which occurred on a New York to Dallas flight.
It is focusing on the possibility of wear and tear having created 'metal fatigue' - microscopic fractures that can splinter under stress - in the engine's fan blades.
Despite medical intervention from crew and fellow passengers, Riordan died of blunt trauma to her head, neck and torso.
Her death is the first fatality involving a US airliner in eight years.
The airline, Southwest, is now inspecting all similar engines in its fleet.
Newshub.
