explosive decompression
Sudden pressure loss
Explosive decompression is the rapid loss of cabin pressure in an aircraft or spacecraft, occurring within seconds.
A breach in the pressurized hull—from structural failure, collision, or explosion—causes air to rush violently outward.
Without immediate oxygen masks, occupants lose consciousness within seconds at high altitude.
The term also applies to similar rapid pressure drops in submarines or hyperbaric chambers.
Simple wooden dwelling
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
- fuselageAircraft's central structure
- ruptureViolent tearing apart
breach · blowout · outflow · bulkhead · door · window · hatch · seal
Absence of matter
- astronautSpacecraft crew member
- spacesuitPressurized garment for vacuum
- airlockTwo-doored pressure transition space
- hullOuter covering or frame
breach · module · spacecraft · station · capsule · hatch · seal · exposure
Injury from pressure differential
- ascentUpward movement
- surfacingComing to the surface
- lungsRespiratory chest organs
- embolismObstruction in blood vessel
bends · caisson · saturation · recompression · chamber · nitrogen · bubbles · overpressure
Relative difference between things
- vacuumAbsence of matter
- rapidMoving with haste
- violentInvolving physical force
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
force · equalization · gradient · atmosphere · millibar · pascal · delta · instantaneous
Element eight, colorless gas
- masksFace-covering disguises
- hypoxiaInsufficient tissue oxygenation
- descentDownward slope or lineage
- evacuationRemoval from danger
ejection · unconsciousness · survival · fatalities · injuries · rescue · crash · mayday
cabin
Simple wooden dwelling
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
- fuselageAircraft's central structure
rupture · breach · blowout · outflow · bulkhead · door · window · hatch · seal · cargo
vacuum
Absence of matter
- astronautSpacecraft crew member
- spacesuitPressurized garment for vacuum
- airlockTwo-doored pressure transition space
hull · breach · module · spacecraft · station · capsule · hatch · seal · exposure · deorbit
barotrauma
Injury from pressure differential
embolism · bends · caisson · saturation · recompression · chamber · nitrogen · bubbles · overpressure · pulmonary
differential
Relative difference between things
sudden · force · equalization · gradient · atmosphere · millibar · pascal · delta · instantaneous · catastrophic
oxygen
Element eight, colorless gas
evacuation · ejection · unconsciousness · survival · fatalities · injuries · rescue · crash · mayday · ditching
- Pressure Problemsflat tire, ear popping, altitude sickness, barotrauma, air leak
explosive, explosion, explode, exploded, exploding, explodes, exploder, explosively, explosiveness