CHARLESTON: Passengers on a Southwest Airlines plane applauded and hugged the pilot for a safe emergency landing in West Virginia after a hole measuring 30 cm by 30 cm appeared in the fuselage.

Passengers Brian Cunningham told NBC’s “Today” show that he was dozing on the flight and was awakened by a loud roar.

Charleston, West Virginia, airport spokesman Brian Belcher says passengers on the 737 aircraft could see the outside through the hole in the rear of the plane. The cabin lost pressure, but no one was injured. The plane, however, landed safely on Monday evening.