FLT ATTENDANT RPT ON AN ENG FAILURE AFTER SEVERAL COMPRESSOR STALLS ON AN MD80 WHICH DIVERTS TO LAS; NV.

Narrative

THERE WAS 4 LOUD EXPLOSIONS AT 3-4 SECOND INTERVALS; PLANE WAS SHAKING; NOSE VEERED FROM L TO R. (CAPT SAID WE WERE 130 MI S OF LAS VEGAS.) I CALLED COCKPIT; CAPT SAID; 'CAN'T TALK NOW.' HE THEN MADE A PA WHICH WAS DIFFICULT TO HEAR IN THE AFT; BUT THE #1 FLT ATTENDANT REPEATED WHAT HE HAD SAID. BOTH THE CAPT AND #1 FLT ATTENDANT WERE VERY CALM AND PROFESSIONAL. EACH GAVE AS MUCH INFO AS POSSIBLE. R ENG WAS SHUT DOWN WHICH CTLED THE SHAKING. WE SECURED THE CABIN AND BRIEFED AT EXITS. CAPT SAID WE WOULD BE ON THE GND IN 20 MINS (I BELIEVE IT WAS LONGER). THE LAST PA DELIVERED FROM THE CAPT WAS THAT HE EXPECTED IT TO BE A NORMAL LNDG. WE WERE MET BY EMER CREWS WHO INSPECTED THE OUTSIDE FOR DAMAGE AND THEN WE WERE ALLOWED TO TAXI TO THE GATE. ONCE STOPPED; THE REMAINING OIL FROM THE ENG DRIPPED INTO A POOL UNDERNEATH IT. PAX WERE COOPERATIVE AND QUIET. 2 WOMEN WERE CRYING (THEY WERE HOLDING BABIES). CAPT STAYED AROUND AFTER PAX WERE DEPLANED INTO GATE AREA. HE ANSWERED QUESTIONS AND WAS VERY HELPFUL. PAX WERE REROUTED OR RETURNED BACK TO LAX. WE RETURNED BACK TO BASE APPROX 6 HRS LATER.