Exploding Southwest jet engine may have been made here in Cincinnati

The failed aircraft engine in fatal Southwest Airlines forced landing Tuesday may have been constructed here in Greater Cincinnati.

GE Aviation declined to discuss the engine in the accident that forced a New York-to-Dallas bound jet to make an emergency landing in Philadelphia and caused the death of New Mexico banker and injured seven others.

But the CFM56-7B is assembled both at the engine manufacturer's home plant in Evendale and Durham, North Carolina. Introduced in 1997, the engine is one of the most popular and best-selling aircraft engines in history with more than 13,000 engines powering more than 6,700 aircraft around the world.

GE Aviation and Safran are both heavily involved in the regular inspections of the engines. Similar to the razor business, GE Aviation sells engines but makes huge profits from parts and service to those engines during the 30-year or more life of those products.

GE Aviation declined to break out annual revenues from engine sales, but more than 2,000 out of 9,000 local workers are involved in CFM engine production and products.

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