An incident involving a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft occurred off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Kauai, where the plane came within 400 feet of the Pacific Ocean due to weather conditions forcing pilots to change course abruptly. The incident took place during Southwest Flight 2786 on April 11, traveling from Honolulu International Airport to Lihue Airport in Kauai.
Passengers experienced a tense moment as the aircraft descended rapidly from nearly 16,000 feet to an altitude of 409 feet following an aborted landing attempt caused by poor visibility due to bad weather.
The Southwest memo revealed that the captain assigned a less-experienced first officer to take command of the flight, who inadvertently made a control input that led to the plane descending quickly. The warning system alerted the crew to the proximity of the terrain, prompting the captain to intervene and initiate a rapid climb to a safer altitude.
The flight, which should have been a short 22-minute journey, had to return to Honolulu after the incident, but fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers and crew.
In response to the event, a Southwest Airlines spokesperson emphasized the airline's commitment to safety, stating that the incident was addressed appropriately through their Safety Management System, with a focus on continuous improvement.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that they are investigating the incident to ensure compliance with safety regulations and protocols.
Similar Incidents in Aviation History
This Southwest incident is reminiscent of a previous incident involving a United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner off Maui in 2022. The Boeing 777-200 aircraft experienced a sudden altitude drop shortly after takeoff, prompting additional training for the pilots following a thorough investigation by the airline, FAA, and ALPA.
