Inspections for fatigue damage after this frightening episode on the southwest airlines flight last friday night. at 35,000 feet t fuselage of the phoenix to sacramento southwest flight ripped open leaving a gaping hole five feet long. passengers described a loud noise. all of a sudden there s a big sunroof in the middle of the plane, a big old hole. assault the oxygen masks dropped. everyone was trying to get the mask on. i m holding the hand of the guy next to me trying not to bawl my eyes out. reporter: after an emergency landing at a military base in arizona, the damaged section was removed along with the flight recorders for analysis of safety board experts. investigatorses believe the problem began with a crack in the lap joint in a part of the fuselage where only visual inspections are required. this is a relatively young airplane.