According to a report, a Southwest Airlines flight narrowly avoided crashing into the ocean off the coast of Hawaii after having to abort a landing due to poor weather conditions. The plane came within a mere 400 feet of the water.
Last week, Southwest sent a memo to its pilots, which was obtained by Bloomberg, revealing that during a flight in April, the Boeing 737 Max 8 unexpectedly dropped by several hundred feet in mere seconds. Fortunately, the flight crew was able to recover and avert a catastrophic crash by pulling up at the last moment.
According to the airline, there were no reported injuries on the passenger flight.
According to ADS-B Exchange, a flight tracking website, Southwest Flight 2786 had to abort its landing due to unfavorable weather conditions and was flying at an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet when it suddenly descended to as low as 400 feet above the sea level.
According to Bloomberg, it descended at a staggering speed of over 4,000 feet per second.
With a sense of panic, the pilot quickly ascended at maximum speed.
According to Kit Darby, a former commercial airline pilot and flight instructor, the pilot was experiencing a turbulent ride as he was constantly pitching up and down with the power, and was dangerously close to losing control. The experience was likened to that of a roller coaster ride, as per the report.
According to the memo, the first officer, who was considered “newer,” was put in command by the captain for the short flight from Honolulu to Lihue Airport.
As the airport came into sight, the pilot made the decision to abort the landing due to poor weather conditions obscuring the runway.
According to the memo, the controls were pushed forward by the first officer while he was monitoring the thrust level, which is controlled by the plane’s automatic throttle, unintentionally.
The autopsy results have been made public for Sydney Weston, an eight-year-old who passed away following a medical emergency during a flight.
The airplane abruptly descended and alarms were triggered as a result of the pilot reducing the speed to compensate.
As per the memo, the captain instructed the first officer to elevate the thrust, resulting in an “aggressive” climb of the plane at a rate of 8,500 feet per minute.
After encountering some technical difficulties, the plane safely landed at Honolulu.
According to Bloomberg, Darby explained that airplanes typically descend gradually at a rate of around 1,500 to 2,000 feet per minute as they near their destination. They usually reach an altitude of 800 feet within a five-mile radius of the airport.
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In response to the incident, SouthWest stated to The Post that safety is their top priority.
According to the spokesperson, they were able to handle the event effectively because of their reliable Safety Management System. As they always aim for progress, they were able to address the situation appropriately.
In a memo, SouthWest emphasized the importance of improved communication among crew members and committed to reviewing both industry and internal data to assess whether any updates to protocols or training are necessary.
Bloomberg reported that the incident is currently under investigation by the FAA.
Just a month ago, a 73-year-old British man lost his life in a tragic incident when a Singapore Airlines Boeing flight encountered severe turbulence. The flight experienced a sudden descent of 6,000 feet, causing unrestrained passengers to be thrown into overhead bins. This recent event serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers that can arise during air travel.
On May 21, a Boeing 777 flight traveling from London to Singapore had 30 passengers injured during the journey.
According to the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau of Singapore, the sudden alteration in gravity force may have caused the unrestrained passengers to be thrown upwards. Subsequently, the second shift in gravity could have resulted in their forceful descent and impact.
