Damaged fuselage forces flight to Boston back to Fla.

BOSTON -- A recent American Airlines flight from Miami to Boston had a sudden loss of cabin pressure, leading to frightening moments for everyone on board.

“We heard an explosion. It sounded like it was coming from outside the plane, but you could feel it internally,” said Edward Croce, a passenger.

After a perfect seven day honeymoon in Jamaica, Edward Croce and his wife Katie weren't expecting their flight home to Boston to be a nightmare.

“All of a sudden it was just this decline in the plane. It was descending really fast, really loud. Lights were going on off. Noises were going on and off. People were hysterical around us, they were crying,” said Croce.

Edward and Katie were 30 minutes in to their American Airlines flight 1640 from Miami when their plane ran into trouble.

“Later the masks came out of ceiling and we both just looked at each other like, ‘This isn’t happening.’ It just didn’t seem real,” said Croce.

The Federal Aviation Administration said that a rip developed on the top-front of the Boeing 757, 31,000 feet in the air.

Ten minutes after the scare started, Croce said they finally got word things would be okay. The flight turned around and headed back to Miami for an emergency landing, where the 154 passengers got on another plane for Boston.

Through it all, Croce thought about his 10-year-old son waiting for him at home.

“I'm just happy to be with my son and family now. It’s going to be hard to get on plane again after this, cause you’re always going to wonder is this going to happen again,” said Croce.

American Airlines released a statement that says, in part:

“The cause of the loss of cabin pressure is unknown at this time. American Airlines has assigned a team of engineers and maintenance technicians who are evaluating the aircraft.”

American has also been in contact with Boeing, the manufacturer of the plane, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Wall Street Journal says the incident bears some similarity to cracks discovered last month on the fusalage of a United Boeing 757.

Also last summer, a Southwest Airlines 737 had to make an emergency landing in West Virginia after developing a one-foot hole in the fusalage at 30,000 feet.

Boeing urged operators to step up inspections following that. The latest incidents involving the 757's reportedly could prompt another safety alert from Boeing.

Fortunately, no one was injured in any of the incidents mentioned involving a ripped or torn fuselage.

While Croce said he is disenchanted with American Airlines, he also said that the crew on board that flight did a fantastic job.

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