Interior panels of an American Airline heading to Dallas pulled apart on both sides of the cabin

An American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing when its cabin walls began to break apart as terrified passengers looked on.

Flyer James Wilson said travellers on Monday's flight from San Francisco to Dallas knew something was wrong when they felt the fuselage begin to shake violently and heard popping noises outside the Boeing 757 shortly after take-off.

Astonished travellers feared the plane would crash as interior panels on both sides of the cabin pulled apart from the walls, exposing insulation, and they felt a change in cabin pressure due to a possible blown air duct.

The 32-year-old race car driver, who was seated in Row 16, said crew members were ‘pulling the panels apart and looking for daylight behind there.’

Fearing the worst, he posted photographs and updates during a live-blog on his Facebook page and sent text messages to his wife, who was supposed to meet him in Dallas, so she would know what happened in case of a crash.

He pleaded with his Facebook friends to call his wife just in case his text messages didn't go through, writing: 'American Flight 2293 depressurized and started coming apart mid air. Please pray for us.'

Cabin crew inspect the walls after frightened passengers began to shout for help

Interior panels on both sides of the cabin pulled apart from the walls, exposing insulation

Mr Wilson added: 'My texts may not have made it to my wife please call her asap.'

His anxious friends tracked the aircraft’s flight path online and posted messages of encouragement after the plane aborted its journey.

One friend wrote: 'I can't imagine the thoughts racing through your head right now. Prayers and God Speed for a safe landing!'

Another added: 'Flight aware says you are 8 minutes out. hang on buddy!'

Mr Wilson was able to board another flight and travel to Austin, Texas, late Monday night, but he complained about American Airlines' customer service because the carrier asked passengers to call a telephone number to organise their own transportation.

American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller said the cause of the incident is being investigated as a possible blown air duct.

He said the cabin did not lose pressure and oxygen masks did not deploy.

Mr Miller added: ‘We had some very professional flight attendants and they did a very good job keeping people calm. They said “It's just cosmetic”.’

Robert Ditchey, an aeronautical engineer, told AP that cabin wall panels are not part of the plane’s structure and have ‘no meaning to the safety of the plane structure.’

The plane has been taken out of service while it undergoes inspections and repairs.

The US Federal Aviation Administration said it will work with American Airlines to identify and correct the problem before the aircraft flies again.

Source: Daily Mail UK