Southwest Airlines accidents: near-miss encounters under the FAA’s eye
Southwest Airlines was placed under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from July 2024 to December 2024. This decision was made after a series of concerning incidents, including:
- 11 April 2024: A Southwest Boeing 737 Max dropped to about 400 feet above sea level off the coast of Hawaii, according to Bloomberg.
- 19 June 2024: A Southwest Boeing 737-800 triggered a low altitude as it passed over Oklahoma suburbs while at 525 feet above ground, according to a CNN report.
- 14 July 2024: A Southwest Boeing 737 Max was found to be flying at a very low altitude, as alerted by an air traffic controller, reaching as low as about 175 feet or 53 meters.
Most of the airline’s other recent encounters include plane diversions with no injured passengers, but a tragic Southwest flight in 2018 set the record for the first U.S. airline death since 2009.
Southwest Airlines lawsuit: the shattered window of Flight 1380
Southwest Flight 1380 was on the way from New York to Dallas on April 17, 2018. Twenty minutes into the flight, the left engine exploded and scattered debris caused a window to shatter. The cabin lost pressure while the plane was above 30,000 feet. Tragically, a passenger was nearly ejected from the broken window while crew and passengers tried to save the woman, a mother of two children. She later died from blunt trauma to the head and torso.
Southwest Airlines faced multiple lawsuits, including one from a Californian native who alleged the airline’s negligence and failed obligation caused post-traumatic stress (PTSD) and depression, among other personal injuries.
Additionally, a couple from Albuquerque filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines, Boeing, and Safran Aircraft Engines one day before the fatal accident’s anniversary.
The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary can file an aviation accident claim for you
Southwest Airlines’ history of incidents shows that any negligence from the airline and manufacturers can cost passengers their lives and leave family members at a loss. Additionally, the incidents show that even the FAA can be amiss in their investigations, as a similar engine issue already occurred two years before Flight 1380, but investigation outcomes came too late.
If you've been injured while onboard a Southwest Airlines planne or suffered emotional damage due to an incident in flight, our Miami airplane accident attorney can file a claim on your behalf. Contact us today to schedule an evaluation of your case.
