FLT ATTENDANT RPT; MD80; LGA-ORD; LOST AN ENG; DIVERT TO PHL.

Narrative

WE HAD JUST LEVELED OFF ON OUR WAY FROM LGA TO ORD. THE CAPT GAVE US OUR CHIME TO GET UP AND START OUR DUTIES. #2 FLT ATTENDANT (MYSELF) AND #4 FLT ATTENDANT WERE IN COACH; STANDING VERY CLOSE TO WHERE THE ENGS ARE; WHEN WE HEARD A VERY LOUD 'BANG.' WE QUICKLY CALLED THE COCKPIT WITH 4 CHIMES TO SEE IF THEY HAD HEARD IT; AND THEY HAD. THEY INFORMED US THAT WE HAD JUST LOST AN ENG AND WOULD CALL BACK. THEY 4 CHIMED US -- THE #1 FLT ATTENDANT WENT TO THE COCKPIT TO GET THE T-E-S-T INFO. WE WERE THEN INFORMED WE ARE DIVERTING TO PHL. WE PROBABLY WON'T HAVE TO EVAC. IF WE DO; HOWEVER; THE SIGNAL WOULD BE 'EASY VICTOR' 3 TIMES OVER THE PA OR EMER LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WE SHOULD GO AHEAD WITH OUR PLANNED EMER CHKLIST; WE HAVE 15 MINS UNTIL TOUCHDOWN. WE THEN PROCEEDED WITH OUR CHKLIST; COMPLETING IT IN PLENTY OF TIME BEFORE LNDG. PAX REMAINED CALM AND EVEN THOUGH EVERYONE WAS VERY NERVOUS; EVERYONE FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS AND NO ONE WAS HURT. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE ENG TO SHUT DOWN; BUT WOULD REALLY LIKE TO UNDERSTAND BETTER HOW IT HAPPENED; AND WHY IT HAPPENED WHEN IT DID.