I can just imagine the headlines in the Sun if it had happened in the UK!
OUT OF CONTROL SATELLITE NARROWLY MISSES JET LINER
"Flaming debris the size of cars was hurtling all around the aircraft..."
"Passenger, Malcolm McZagerator, 25, Preston Park, said, 'all of a sudden this orange and red stuff was raining all around us. The passengers were in total panic, the cabin crew were crying and praying at the exits. It was just awful...'"
"One passenger reported that he swore he saw the letters NAS on one of the pieces of debris as it tumbled past his window. This reporter naturally conjectures that this is in fact a NASA satellite. NASA have been unable to comment, probably because we haven't contacted them."