A Southwest Airlines flight had a scary moment when it dropped to just 525 feet while still nine miles away from the runway it was supposed to land on. The Boeing 737-800 was almost finished with its journey from Las Vegas to Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City when an automated warning alerted the pilots just after midnight as the plane passed over the suburbs of OKC.
Air traffic control quickly contacted the pilots, asking if everything was okay. The pilots responded by saying they were “going around” and regained altitude, circling for a safe landing on another runway. The airport’s air traffic personnel confirmed the alert and missed approach, mentioning that there were no issues with the aircraft itself.
Southwest Airlines released a statement to the Oklahoman, stating that they are working with the Federal Aviation Administration to understand and address any irregularities with the aircraft’s approach. Safety is their top priority for both customers and employees.
One person in the Yukon Happenings Facebook group shared their experience of being startled by the low-flying plane, expressing concern that it might hit their house. The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating the incident to determine what caused the plane to dip so low in the early morning hours.
This incident follows other recent close calls involving Southwest Airlines, including a pilot coming within 400 feet of crashing into the Pacific Ocean and a plane narrowly avoiding a runway collision in Washington, D.C. The frequency of these incidents raises concerns about flight safety procedures and communication protocols within the airline. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.