FAA Investigating Southwest Airlines Flight After Treacherous Approach

Image: Southwest Airlines jet at Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah. (Photo courtesy of Southwest Airlines)
Image: Southwest Airlines jet at Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah. (Photo courtesy of Southwest Airlines)
Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 9:10 AM ET, Fri June 21, 2024

This was too close for comfort. Treacherously close, in fact.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a Southwest Airlines flight in which the pilot came in for a landing dangerously too low. The incident happened Thursday night near Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City.

At one point, Southwest Airlines flight 4069 was just 525 feet above the ground. The incident happened about nine miles from the airport. The pilot did make a safe landing, but not without some harrowing moments.

"Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees," a company's statement read.

Southwest said it will work in tandem with the FAA "to understand and address any irregularities with the aircraft’s approach to the airport."

Apparently, there was no problem within the cockpit as the low altitude warning did go off, according to the FAA. But it was the second time in a week that a Southwest Airlines flight was perilously close to the ground.


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Rich Thomaselli

Rich Thomaselli

Associate Writer

Editor Associate Writer true 9281 14744 Rich Thomaselli has written for TravelPulse since 2014 and has been a professional journalist for nearly 40 years. His work has appeared in USA Today, the New York Times and New York Yankees publications. He is an 11-time writ

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