Jennifer Riordan of Albuquerque, New Mexico
The Southwest Airlines victim was a Wells Fargo executive and mom of two
(CNN)Jennifer Riordan, a well-known leader and altruist from New Mexico, died Tuesday when a Southwest Airlines jet engine failed midair and its debris blew up a window.
Riordan, 43, was making her way back home to Albuquerque when a terrifying episode ensued about 20 minutes after her plane left New York's LaGuardia Airport.
Passengers had to pull her back into the plane when she was being sucked out of the broken window. She died at a Philadelphia hospital after the plane made an emergency landing, authorities said.
She died from blunt impact trauma of the head, neck and torso, a spokesman for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health said.
Hers was the first death from an in-flight incident in company history, the airline said.
Riordan had dedicated her life to philanthropy, helping others in Albuquerque and the Southwest region, colleagues said.
In her role as vice president of community relations at Wells Fargo in Albuquerque, Riordan managed the volunteer service of more than 1,000 employees since 2008, according to her LinkedIn profile.
In a statement, Wells Fargo called her "a well-known leader who was loved and respected."
Jennifer Riordan, with her husband Michael and their two children.
Government officials in New Mexico mourned Riordan's death.
"This is a tremendous and tragic loss for Jennifer's family and many others throughout our city," Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said in a statement.
"Her leadership and philanthropic efforts made this a better place every day and she will be terribly missed. We are holding Jennifer and her family in our thoughts."
Riordan is survived by two children and her husband, Michael Riordan, who was once the chief operating officer for the city of Albuquerque, CNN affiliate KOAT reported.
A statement from her family called her "the bedrock of our family."
"She and Mike wrote a love story unlike any other. Her beauty and love is evident through her children," the statement said.
Riordan volunteered at her children's school, the Annunciation Catholic School in Albuquerque. The school said it was "devastated to lose an integral member of our school community."
"She was seen on campus almost daily supporting her beautiful children. She provided encouragement to everyone with whom she came in contact," the school said. "Her positive motivating spirit will be missed. As a community, we will keep Jennifer and her family in prayer."
In addition to church and school activities, Riordan served on several boards, including the University of New Mexico Alumni Association and the New Mexico Broadcasters Association.
One of her past employers, the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, described her as an "amazing community leader, team member, wife and mother."
"Her passion for our community, our students and our future was unwavering," the health center said in a statement.
Part 2: "Her service continued as part of the UNM family, serving on the Alumni Association Board.
Jennifer was an amazing community leader, team member, wife and mother. Her passion for our community, our students and our future was unwavering."
Part 3: "We are committed to carrying on her work to ensure quality education and career opportunities to New Mexico’s youth. Our thoughts and prayers remain with her family during this difficult time. She will be forever missed by her Lobo family."
She graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in organizational communications and had an associate's degree from Champlain College in Vermont, according to Mission: Graduate, an initiative of the United Way of Central New Mexico.
She graduated from high school in Colchester, Vermont in 1992, school district officials said.
CNN's Chris Boyette, Ellie Kaufman and Darran Simon contributed to this report.
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