Safety regulators are probing a recent low-altitude flight by a Southwest jet in Florida.
Federal officials are looking into an incident where a Southwest Airlines jet flew as low as 150 feet (45 meters) above water while still about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from its intended landing at Tampa Airport in Florida. Instead, the pilots diverted and landed at Fort Lauderdale, 200 miles (320 kilometers) away.
This July 14 flight follows a similar incident in Oklahoma City last month, where another Southwest jet flew unusually low miles away from the airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed on Monday that it is investigating the matter.
Southwest Flight 425, which departed from Columbus, Ohio, descended to its lowest point over Old Tampa Bay near the Courtney Campbell Causeway, according to Flightradar24. This is notably lower than three previous Southwest flights to Tampa, which passed the same point at about 1,225 feet (375 meters).
Southwest Airlines stated that Flight 425 diverted safely to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport after the crew aborted their approach to Tampa International Airport. The Dallas-based airline is cooperating with the FAA to understand and address any irregularities, emphasizing that safety is their top priority.
The FAA is still investigating a June 18 incident where a Southwest jet triggered a low-altitude alert at around 525 feet (160 meters) above ground and 9 miles (14 kilometers) from Oklahoma City Airport. After an automated warning, an air traffic controller contacted the crew, who then performed a “go-around” before landing safely.
Additionally, in April, a Southwest flight near Hawaii descended to within 400 feet (120 meters) of the ocean before climbing again. The National Transportation Safety Board is also probing an incident where a Southwest jet experienced a “Dutch roll” and was found with tail damage after a flight from Phoenix to Oakland, California, likely caused by being parked outside during a severe storm.