Airliner makes emergency landing....
 

After a large hole was blown out of the fuselage.

Would anyone like to start the rampant speculation on the cause of a large hole suddenly blowing out from the luggage section of a jumbo jet?


It seems an odd place for metal fatigue, I doubt a can of hair spray popping off would do that....

Yeah, I just saw the story. Interesting. But I have nothing interesting to add.

I'm going to guess it was someone misusing The Secret. Probably someone on board thinking too hard that "I really wish I hadn't put my other book in the checked luggage" and so the universe tried to give them that book.

Looking at the photo, I will (in contradiction to my call for rampant speculation) say it looks like more of a tear than an explosion.

Maybe a kangaroo was trying to kick its way out of the cargo hold.

Well, they are saying "explosive decompression."

Smokey decided it didn't want the plane to land in Australia.

Explosive decompression does not mean an explosion triggered things. It means that a hole opened in the fuselage leading to a rapid release of the pressurized air inside. A balloon popping is an example of explosive decompression. The "explosive" part is the result, not necessarily the cause.

I read it as the explosive decompression was what happened when the panel ripped off.

Explosive decompression is also what happens after Burrito Night.

Most likely, something compromised the hull, explosive decompression caused some initial damage, then larger pieces ripped off due to flapping around at 600 mph.