An air traffic controller replies: “Injured passengers, OK, and is your airplane physically on fire?”

“No,” Shults replies, “It’s not on fire, but part of it is missing. They said there is a hole and, someone went out.”

Understandably, the controller thinks he’s misheard her, and asks: “I’m sorry? You said there is a hole and someone went out?”

After collecting himself, he responds: “Southwest 1380 it doesn’t matter, we’ll work it out there. So the airport’s off to your right.”

Minutes later, Shults makes an emergency landing, and thanks all of the air traffic controllers for their assistance.

“Thank you, we are going to stop right here by the fire trucks. Thank you, guys, for the help,” she says.

And, as it turns, the passengers couldn’t have been in better hands as Shults was the first female fighter pilot in the US Navy. She tried to attend an aviation career day at high school but was told they didn’t accept girls, according to blog, F-16.net.

After studying medicine, Shults applied to the US Air Force. She wasn’t allowed to take the test to become a pilot, but the US Navy allowed her to.

Why you need to listen to the audio of "hero pilot" Tammie Jo Shults