CALGARY — WestJet Airlines Ltd. says it’s immediately accelerating inspections of some fan blades following an engine failure on a Southwest Airlines flight Tuesday that left one passenger ****.

Calgary-based Westjet says the European Aviation Safety Authority issued a directive that airlines inspect some fan blades on Boeing 737NG engines by the end of 2019, but the company says it plans to have the inspections done ahead of time based on the Southwest event.

On Tuesday, the engine on a Southwest flight exploded, hitting the plane with ******. A woman was sucked partway out of the *** when a window shattered. She **** later from her ********.

Investigators said the blade that broke off mid-flight and triggered the ***** ******** was showing signs of metal fatigue – microscopic cracks from repeated use.

Last year, Southwest Airlines had opposed a recommendation by the engine manufacturer to require ultrasonic inspections of certain fan blades within 12 months, saying it needed more time to conduct the work.

The manufacturer’s recommendation for more inspections followed an engine ********* on a 2016 Southwest flight.