Boeing faced another incident involving a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 flying at a low altitude over a residential area near Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, prompting concerns from residents and air traffic controllers.
The aircraft descended to less than 500 feet above ground but later gained altitude following an alert.
“Southwest 4069, low altitude alert. You good out there?” the air-traffic controller said.
“After receiving the low altitude alert, flight records show the plane quickly gained altitude, climbing from around 450 feet above ground when it crossed over the northern edge of Yukon High School’s property, to more than 1,000 feet above ground by the time it crossed the southern edge of the school’s property,” KFOR-TV reported.
“Southwest is following its robust Safety Management System and is in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration to understand and address any irregularities with the aircraft’s approach to the airport,” a Southwest spokesperson stated. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.”
While uncertainties remain, the late hour of the flight and the type of aircraft involved are the assumed causes of the incident.
The event has added to recent troubles for Boeing, with considerations on safety and potential implications for the company amidst existing concerns over its aircraft quality.
“We are pulling together the data that we have, and it does not indicate that there is anything that is of fleet concern here,” Boeing’s top engineer Howard McKenzie said of one particular issue the company is facing. “The Dutch roll is an oscillation due to the rudder actuator responding to a particular circumstance that it is in … the data we have indicates that this airplane underwent some unique circumstance that is particular to this airplane.”
