OU Professor Recounts Deadly Southwest Flight

News 9 sat down with an OU Social Justice Professor who was two seats away from the woman who died on the tragic Southwest Airlines flight Tuesday. 

Hollie Mackey said she was returning from an education conference in New York City, and took the aisle seat in row 14. 

"Hopefully Jennifer knew that she wasn't alone. Whatever she was thinking, whatever she was feeling," said Mackey. 

Jennifer Riordan, 43, was sitting in the window seat next to the wing. Mackey said an 11 or 12-year-old girl was sitting in between them. 

"All at once it was, it was loud and there was a big sucking and cold all at once," said Mackey. She continued to explain that it was so loud, you couldn't hear anything or breathe. 

"In that moment we were fumbling with our oxygen masks, at the time because it's not as easy as you think," she said. 

Mackey was the heroic passenger we heard about, who desperately tried to pull Riordan back into the plane. She said the little girl between them tried to help as well. 

"She wasn't crying or screaming, you know she was just so remarkably strong and I can't imagine being so young and going through that and being that calm under pressure knowing that it had to be terrifying," said Mackey.

Her husband is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, who's a long time member of OU's athletic department. He said the fact the Pilot was a Naval Aviator is why the plane landed safely Tuesday. 

Mackey said she will always remember Riordan. 

"She asked if anybody was sitting there, would it be okay if she say there, and I said sure. And um she was very pleasant, very caring smile, very nice," said Mackey. 

Mackey said that Southwest did an excellent job, and she will fly again.