ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

A pilot with “nerves of steel” who steered Southwest Flight 1380 to safety after one of its engines exploded has been named as ex-Navy pilot and mother-of-two Tammie Jo Shults.

Ms Shults, 56, has been hailed as a hero for landing the Dallas-bound Boeing 737 safely at Philadelphia International at 11.30am after the plane experienced an engine failure at 32,000ft.

In an audio clip, Ms Shults, who was one of the first female fighter pilots in the US Navy, can be heard calmly telling Air Traffic Control that a part of the plane is missing and that there was "a hole and someone went out."

The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed on Tuesday morning that one person had died on the flight.

The victim has since been identified as mother-of-two Jennifer Riordan from Albuquerque, who was killed after shrapnel from the engine smashed a window and she was sucked “partially out of the jet".

Other passengers pulled her back into her seat but she later died in hospital. Seven others suffered minor injuries.

As the crisis unravelled on board, Ms Schults, who is married with two children, remained calm and told Air Traffic Control: “So we have a part of the aircraft missing.”

When asked if the plane was on fire, she replied: “No, it's not on fire but part of it's missing. They said there is a hole and someone went out.”

She added that “we have injured passengers” and requested medical staff to meet them on landing.

Passengers say that after calmly landing the plane, Ms Shults took the time to speak to all those aboard personally.

Thankful passengers expressed their appreciation for the pilot's bravery after landing.

"Tammie Jo Schults, the pilot came back to speak to each of us personally"' Diana McBride Self wrote.

"This is a true American Hero. A huge thank you for her knowledge, guidance and bravery in a traumatic situation. God bless her and all the crew."

Alfred Tumlinson, of Corpus Christi, Texas said: “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.”

Ms Shults is a native of New Mexico and graduated in 1983 from MidAmerica Nazarene University, Heavy.com reported.

She applied for the Air Force after graduation but wasn’t allowed to test to become a pilot. The Navy welcomed her, however, and she was one of the first female fighter pilots in the US Navy and first to fly an F-18.

She later became an instructor but resigned in 1993 when she joined Southwest Airlines. She lives with her husband Dean, a fellow pilot, and their two children, Sydney and Marshall, in Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas.

Ms Shults’ brother-in-law, Gary Shults, told The Associated Press: “She’s a formidable woman, as sharp as a tack. My brother says she’s the best pilot he knows. She’s a very caring, giving person who takes care of lots of people.”