LISTEN: Recordings from Southwest pilot as she lands damaged aircraft

While investigators are trying to find out what caused the engine of a Southwest Boeing 737-700 to explode mid-flight, many are praising the plane’s pilot that the catastrophic failure didn’t cause more deaths.

Tammy Jo Shults brought the one-engine plane down safely at Philadelphia International Airport.

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The AP reported flight 1380 passenger Alfred Tumlinson said of Shults, "She has nerves of steel. That lady, I applaud her. I'm going to send her a Christmas card -- I'm going to tell you that -- with a gift certificate for getting me on the ground. She was awesome."

Passengers told the AP that Shults walked through the plane making sure they were OK as soon as they got on the ground.

The flight left New York with 149 people on board. One person died and seven more were injured when a piece of the engine exploded and a piece of shrapnel broke a window and damaged the plane, the AP reported.

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