rapid decompression

Sudden pressure loss

Rapid decompression is the sudden loss of cabin pressure in an aircraft or spacecraft, typically from structural failure or a breach in the fuselage.

The event forces immediate descent to breathable altitude and deployment of oxygen masks.

The term also applies to similar pressure drops in submarines, diving bells, or pressurized chambers: The pilot initiated an emergency descent after rapid decompression at 35,000 feet.

Related

drop down · mask · aircraft · flight crew · emergency · emergency descent · vacuum · blast · sudden · violent · hissing · ears · popping · hypoxia · blowout · sucked out · fuselage · breach

Opposites
speed of pressure change

rapid decompressionslow leak

Gradual escape of air

direction of pressure change

rapid decompressionpressurization

Raising internal atmospheric force

compression · repressurization

Family

rapid, rapidly, rapidity, rapids, decompression, decompress, decompressed, decompressing, compress

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Top 500,000
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Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Rated PG