FAA Investigates Low-Altitude Flight Over Tampa Bay
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an investigation into a troubling incident involving a Southwest Airlines flight that descended to a dangerously low altitude over Tampa Bay, Florida. On July 14, a Boeing 737 MAX, departing from Columbus, Ohio, dropped to approximately 53 meters above the water when it was about 5 km from Tampa airport. An air traffic controller promptly alerted the flight crew, and the plane was diverted to Fort Lauderdale without further incident.
Analyzing the KML data from the flight in Google Earth reveals the aircraft lining up and descending over the Courtney Campbell Causeway near Sunset Point, instead of the intended runway 10. It remains unclear whether the autopilot was engaged at the time. The investigation will consider whether heavy rain blocked the crew's view of the runway and if they were performing a visual approach rather than relying on the RNAV 10 Z instrument approach.
Southwest Airlines confirmed their cooperation with the FAA to "understand and address any irregularities" related to the July 14 flight. The airline emphasized that the safety of their customers and employees remains their highest priority.
This is not the first time Southwest Airlines has faced scrutiny over safety concerns. The FAA is currently investigating several other incidents involving the airline:
- June 25, 2024, Portland, Maine: Southwest Airlines Flight 4805 departed from a temporarily closed runway at the Portland International Jetport. An airport vehicle exited the runway before the plane began its takeoff roll. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the event, which occurred around 5:45 a.m. local time.
- June 19, 2024, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: An automated warning alerted an air traffic controller to notify the crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 4069 about a low altitude issue nine miles from Will Rogers World Airport. The FAA is investigating the incident that occurred around 12:05 a.m. local time.
- June 19, 2024, Davenport, Washington: A Robinson R-44 helicopter crashed near Davenport, Washington, around 4:30 p.m. local time. Two people were on board. The FAA and NTSB will investigate, with the NTSB in charge of providing updates.
- April 11, 2024, Hawaii: A Southwest flight experienced a rapid descent, coming within 400 feet of the ocean after the first officer inadvertently pushed forward on the control column. The plane descended at a rate of about 4,400 feet per minute before the pilots regained control.
- May 25, 2024: A Southwest 737 MAX encountered a "Dutch roll" at an altitude of 34,000 feet while traveling from Phoenix, Arizona, to Oakland, California. The FAA and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board are investigating this potentially dangerous lateral movement.
These incidents underscore the critical need for rigorous safety protocols and thorough investigations to ensure the well-being of passengers and crew in the aviation industry.