Narrative:

There was 4 loud explosions at 3-4 second intervals, plane was shaking, nose veered from left to right. (Captain said we were 130 mi south of las vegas.) I called cockpit, captain said, 'can't talk now.' he then made a PA which was difficult to hear in the aft, but the #1 flight attendant repeated what he had said. Both the captain and #1 flight attendant were very calm and professional. Each gave as much information as possible. Right engine was shut down which controled the shaking. We secured the cabin and briefed at exits. Captain said we would be on the ground in 20 mins (I believe it was longer). The last PA delivered from the captain was that he expected it to be a normal landing. We were met by emergency crews who inspected the outside for damage and then we were allowed to taxi to the gate. Once stopped, the remaining oil from the engine dripped into a pool underneath it. Passenger were cooperative and quiet. 2 women were crying (they were holding babies). Captain stayed around after passenger were deplaned into gate area. He answered questions and was very helpful. Passenger were rerouted or returned back to lax. We returned back to base approximately 6 hours later.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 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.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.