737-300/700 137 pax + 5 crewmembers + 3 available jumpseats
737-500 122 pax + 5 crewmembers + 3 available jumpseats
I just flew this aircraft in question, "football hole" in the upper fuselage 2 days ago. This aircraft was recently "reskinned" by Boeing. Although the NTSB report is not out, the aircraft has been patched and inspected with a microscope by just about everyone and put back into service. Like I stated, the report is not out but what I understand is that the failure occurred at a chemical etched joint in the aluminum applied during the reskinning. How? I don't know as yet but the failure acted as it is engineered to do. Fail and stop in expansion. That's what I know so far.