Safety regulators are investigating another low-level flight by a Southwest Airlines plane, this time in Florida
WASHINGTON — Federal authorities are investigating an incident in which a Southwest Airlines plane flew 150 feet above water while still about five miles from its intended landing site at Tampa International Airport in Florida.
The pilots avoided Tampa airport and landed in Fort Lauderdale, 200 miles away.
The July 14 flight follows a similar incident last month in Oklahoma City, in which a Southwest Airlines plane flew at an unusually low altitude while still miles from the airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it was investigating the incident.
Southwest Airlines Flight 425, which took off from Columbus, Ohio, reached its lowest point while flying over Old Tampa Bay near the Courtney Campbell Causeway, according to Flightradar24. Three previous Southwest Airlines flights to Tampa passed the same point at about 1,200 feet, the flight tracker said.
“Southwest Airlines Flight 425 was safely diverted to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on July 14 after the crew aborted their planned approach to Tampa International Airport,” the airline said in a statement.
Based in Dallas South West Southwest Airlines said it is in contact with the FAA “to understand and address any irregularities. Nothing is more important to Southwest Airlines than the safety of our customers and employees.”
The FAA is still investigating a June 18 flight in which a Southwest jet triggered a low altitude alert about 160 meters above the ground and 14 kilometers from the Oklahoma City airport. An air traffic controller contacted the crew after receiving an automatic warning from the control tower. The plane circled the airport – a “go-around” – before landing without incident.
In April, a Southwest Airlines plane plunged off the coast of Hawaii and came within 400 feet of the ocean before starting to climb. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating a Southwest Airlines plane that made an unusual mistake “Dutch roll” and damage was discovered on the plane’s tail after a flight from Phoenix to Oakland, California. Investigators say the plane was parked outside during a severe storm.
