Looks like a midair breakup to me.
>I don't think I've ever seen the term "wetback" used here before.
Lurk moar. I've used it as both a noun and a verb.
>True. Never seen wetback used here. I know who it refers to but have no idea what it even means.
Wetback: Just swam across the river or otherwise crossed a border illegally.
To wetback: To cross a border illegally.
Microburst, maybe?
Cables would have been obvious, and birds tearing off an engine sounds unlikely.