Weak paneling? Not much that is light in weight (weight=money for airlines) is going to be able to withstand a compressor disc exploding out at god knows what speed.
Aircraft wings are designed to be flexible and to absorb that kind of damage with hopefully minimal side effects to the aircraft. It is worth noting that the flying debris DID in fact damage some aircraft components, as upon landing not all of the spoilers on the wing deployed (hydraulic line?), and the #1 engine on the same wing had to be "drowned" by the fire trucks to shut it down. I have heard that this was a safety feature that upon some of the controls being severed to the engines the computer automatically keeps the fuel valves to open so the other engine doesn't cut out without computer input to the fuel valve.
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