NEW footage captures the panic and helplessness of passengers aboard the Southwest Airlines forced to make an emergency landing after its engine exploded and window shattered.

Hunched and motionless, a passenger filmed crew members calming passengers on Flight 1380 on which mum-of-two Jennifer Riordan was killed.

"We are almost there, everybody put on your oxygen masks," a surprisingly calm female flight attendant says over the PA. "Everybody breathe, we're almost there."

She then breaks off from the announcement, seemingly rushing to help someone who does not have their oxygen mask on properly.

Albuquerque resident Riordan, 41, suffered fatal head injuries after she was partially sucked out of the plane window.

It shattered after being struck by a piece of shrapnel which snapped off from the engine after years of natural wear and tear from extreme stress.

Pilot Tammie Jo Shults, 56, who was hailed an American hero after successfully landing the Boeing 737 in Philadelphia, said "hearts were heavy" over Riordan's death.

"As Captain and First Officer of the crew of five who worked to serve our customers aboard Flight 1380 yesterday, we all feel we were simply doing our jobs," she said in a statement released by Southwest Airlines, seen by the New York Post.

She added: "Our hearts are heavy. On behalf of the entire crew, we appreciate the outpouring of support from the public and our coworkers as we all reflect on one family's profound loss."

Marty Martinez, the passenger who paid £6 to live stream the disaster on Facebook, recently hit back at trolls who slammed him for the recording – saying he wanted to reach out to his loved ones in case "these were my final moments".

Blasting those who accused him of not "assisting others in his row", Martinez, 29, from Dallas, said on Good Morning Britain: "I was convinced these were my last moments on earth.

"I didn't record the live stream for strangers or to live stream my death. Put yourself in my shoes, I finally get WiFi access and was faced with the agonising decision over who I should reach out to and what to say.

"I wanted to reach as many of my loved ones as I could. I had no idea if I had three or five minutes or ten minutes."

One troll who criticised his motives said: "Glad this had a positive outcome. This video shows how people don't pay attention.

"Obviously the mask wasn't put on properly before going on FB live. Wonder if he offered to assist others in his row as well".

Another wrote on Facebook: "I just find it odd that people are posting on social media when the plane is potentially going down. It is just pitiful."

Michelle tweeted: "You should be praying, not doing a Facebook live video."

Fellow tweeter Liberty wrote: "You think your plane is going down and the first thing you do is go on FB Live. What is wrong with people??"

In his video, Martinez who was sitting two rows behind tragic banker Jennifer Riordan, said "there was blood everywhere".

He added: "Something is wrong with our plane! It appears we are going down! Emergency landing! Southwest flight to NYC to Dallas!"

National Transport Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt said investigators are currently classifying the event as an "engine failure."

The plane passenger sent a text to his family and friends, which read: "I want you to know that I love you all and thank you for all you’ve done."

Experts classifying Southwest incident as an ‘engine failure’

National Transport Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt said investigators are currently classifying the event as an "engine failure."

He said it could ultimately be classified as an uncontained engine failure, though that is a technical term which depends on where, precisely, the parts that left the engine originated from.

He added that as a former Boeing 737 pilot, he has never experienced anything like it himself, though the NTSB sees about "three or four" uncontained engine failures a year, though not all of those involve US carriers.

He gave the example of  Air France flight 66 which made an emergency landing in Canada last autumn after one of its engines failed during an Atlantic crossing.

Sarah Eamigh, a passenger on the flight, told CNN partner CTV News that passengers sensed something was wrong during that 2017 flight.

"We heard a loud pop, and we had a quick descent along with some vibration. It definitely was not turbulence so we knew something was wrong," she told the Canadian broadcaster.

"The captain was able to recover the plane quite fast, however, we were definitely nervous because the vibrating was probably occurring a good five to eight minutes. And then the captain basically 10 to 15 minutes after provided an announcement stating that we had a small engine explosion."

While he is thankful to have another shot at life, Martinez said his next flight will be an extremely nerve-wracking experience.

Pilot Tammie Jo Shults is being hailed a hero for safely landing the plane with 143 passengers and five crew on board at Philadelphia.

After the mid-air blast tore a gaping hole in the aircraft's side, she told shocked air traffic controllers "there’s a hole and uh… someone went out."

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During an extraordinary exchange with air traffic control, the pilot revealed she had "injured passengers" who would require medical help on landing.

Banking executive Jennifer Riodan suffered fatal head injuries after she was partially sucked out of the flight.

Riordan, who was on her way home to Albuquerque, New Mexico, was pulled back inside by heroic passengers and crew after the aircraft was pierced by shrapnel.

A family statement read: "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. She and Mike wrote a love story unlike any other. Her beauty and love is evident through her children."

It added: "In her memory – please remember to always be kind, loving, caring, and sharing."

The Boeing 737  had just departed New York's LaGuardia Airport en-route to Dallas when the left engine exploded and ruptured metal flew towards a window.

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