What's happened
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 flight came within 400 feet of the ocean off the coast of Hawaii on April 11, 2024, after an aborted landing attempt due to bad weather. The aircraft descended at a rate of 4,400 feet per minute before climbing back to safety. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident. No injuries were reported. This event follows another incident involving a 'Dutch roll' on a Southwest flight from Phoenix to Oakland on May 25, which caused substantial damage to the aircraft's tail section.
What's behind the headline?
What the papers say
According to Metro, the aircraft dropped within 400 feet of the ocean after the first officer inadvertently pushed forward on the control column during a go-around. Sky News reported that the crew did not hear the 'DON'T SINK' and 'PULL UP' warnings. The Independent highlighted that the FAA is investigating the incident, and Bloomberg noted that the event adds to a series of safety issues as airlines increase flights post-pandemic. The Guardian emphasized Southwest's commitment to safety, stating, 'Nothing is more important to Southwest than Safety.'
How we got here
The incident occurred on April 11, 2024, when a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 was flying from Honolulu to Lihue airport in Kauai. Adverse weather conditions forced the pilots to abort the landing attempt, leading to a go-around maneuver. During this maneuver, the first officer inadvertently pushed the control column forward, causing the aircraft to descend rapidly. The crew managed to regain control and climb back to safety. The FAA is now investigating the incident, which follows other safety concerns involving the Boeing 737 MAX 8, including a 'Dutch roll' incident on May 25, 2024.
Go deeper
- What caused the Southwest Airlines flight to drop near the ocean?
- How is the FAA responding to the incident?
- What are the implications for Southwest Airlines and Boeing?
Common question
More on these topics
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Southwest Airlines Co. is a major American airline headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and is the world's largest low-cost carrier.
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The Boeing Company is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide.
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The Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigates civil aircraft accidents and serious incidents within the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and crown dependencies. It is also the Space Accident Investigation Authority for the United Kingdom.
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Hawaii is a state of the United States of America located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the only U.S. state located outside North America, the only island state, and the only state in the tropics.
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The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation.
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The Boeing 737 is a narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes at its Renton Factory in Washington.
Developed to supplement the Boeing 727 on short and thin routes, the twinjet retains the 707 fuselage cross-section and nose with two und
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Bristol Airport, at Lulsgate Bottom, on the northern slopes of the Mendip Hills, in North Somerset, is the commercial airport serving the city of Bristol, England, and the surrounding area. It is 7 nautical miles southwest of Bristol city centre.
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The Boeing 737 MAX is the fourth generation of the Boeing 737, a narrow-body airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It succeeds the Boeing 737 Next Generation.
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Dutch roll is an aircraft motion consisting of an out-of-phase combination of "tail-wagging" (yaw) and rocking from side to side (roll). This yaw-roll coupling is one of the basic flight dynamic modes (others include phugoid, short period, and spiral...
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Bloomberg L.P. is a privately held financial, software, data, and media company headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.