FAA Probes Dangerous Altitude Drop of Southwest Boeing 737 Max

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a concerning incident involving a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max aircraft that descended to a dangerously low altitude over Tampa Bay. On July 14, Flight 425 from Columbus, Ohio, was reported to have plummeted to just 175 feet above the water while still approximately 3 miles from Tampa International Airport, according to CNBC.

Data from Flightradar24 confirmed the alarming drop, prompting an air traffic controller to issue a warning to the pilots. The flight, which was ultimately diverted to Fort Lauderdale, landed safely.

This incident has intensified scrutiny on Southwest Airlines, following a series of recent altitude-related concerns. In April, Southwest Flight 2786 narrowly avoided a crash into the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii by coming within 400 feet of the water. Additionally, in June, Southwest Flight 4069 descended to only 525 feet while still 9 miles from the airport in Oklahoma City. Earlier this year, a Southwest Boeing 737 Max 8 was grounded for over a week due to damage sustained during a “Dutch roll” maneuver.

Southwest Airlines has stated that it is collaborating with the FAA to investigate and resolve any issues related to the July 14 incident. The airline emphasized its commitment to safety, asserting, “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.”

The FAA’s ongoing investigation aims to ensure such dangerous incidents are thoroughly examined to prevent future occurrences and maintain high safety standards in aviation.