FAA probes latest Southwest Airlines flight causing safety concerns

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is looking into a Southwest Airlines flight that flew at an unusually low altitude over Tampa Bay, Florida. This incident is just one in a series of safety issues that have been plaguing the airline.

On July 14, a Southwest Boeing 737 MAX, which had departed from Columbus, Ohio, dropped to as low as 175 feet (53 meters) when it was approximately 3 miles (5 km) from the Tampa airport. The crew was alerted by an air traffic controller and the plane was diverted to Fort Lauderdale.

Southwest Airlines has assured the public that they are in contact with the FAA to address any irregularities and to prioritize the safety of their passengers and employees.

This is not the first time Southwest Airlines has faced safety concerns. In April, a Southwest 737 flight came dangerously close to the ocean off Hawaii due to an inadvertent push on the control column by the first officer. Additionally, there have been incidents involving very low altitude flights near the Oklahoma City airport and a flight that departed from a closed runway in Portland, Maine.

The FAA, along with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, is conducting investigations into these incidents to ensure the safety and well-being of all passengers flying with Southwest Airlines.