Low Altitude Alert: Southwest Boeing 737-800 Descends to 500 Feet 9 Miles Before Landing in Oklahoma City

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 alarmed residents and triggered a low-altitude warning as it descended to 500 feet while still nine miles from Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. The incident occurred early Wednesday morning, shortly after midnight, as the aircraft was on a visual approach from Las Vegas.

Too Close to the Ground

The flight, cleared for a visual approach from the northwest, descended unusually low, flying over Yukon High School. This anomaly prompted a low-altitude alert from air traffic control, with the controller inquiring, "Southwest 4069, low altitude alert. You doing OK?" The pilots responded that they were executing a go-around and received instructions to climb to 3,000 feet. The aircraft safely regained altitude and landed without further incident.

Residents in the area were startled by the low-flying aircraft. One resident reported being woken up and fearing the plane might hit their house. A Southwest spokesperson reassured that the airline is investigating the irregularities in the aircraft’s approach and is in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The spokesperson emphasized that safety is paramount for Southwest Airlines.

Previous Incident

This incident follows a similar event a few months earlier involving a Southwest Boeing 737 MAX 8 near Lihue Airport. On April 11, Flight 2786 from Southwest Airlines descended to just 400 feet above the ocean due to a severe altitude drop, attributed to pilot error by an inexperienced First Officer. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Ground Proximity Warning System

Modern aircraft are equipped with Ground Proximity Warning Systems (GPWS), designed to alert pilots when they are dangerously close to the terrain. This system, mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 1979, was developed to prevent Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) accidents. The GPWS remains a crucial safety instrument, helping pilots maintain safe altitudes during flight.

In Conclusion

The incident in Oklahoma City underscores the importance of safety systems and protocols in aviation. While the cause of the low-altitude descent is under investigation, the swift response by the pilots and air traffic control ensured a safe outcome.