What: Southwest Airlines Boeing en route from Little Rock to Baltimore
Where: Little Rock
When: Mar 24 2010
Who: 137 passengers
Why: While en route, the cabin filled with the scent of something burning. The flight returned to Little Rock where it made a safe landing. Passengers were rebooked on a later flight.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Orlando Suarez
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Orlando to Milwaukee
Photo: A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4
Where: Milwaukee
When: Feb 21st 2010
Why: On approach to Milwaukee, the crew reported issues with the flaps. The plane entered a flight pattern, and eventually made a safe if rapid landing.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Julian Hunt
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Las Vegas to Burbank
Where: On approach to the Burbank airport
When: Feb 13th 2010
Who: 80 passengers and 5 crew
Why: A small private plane and a SW Boeing came within 5900 feet of a collision, but between ATC and the Traffic and Collision Avoidance System warning, the flights adjusted, and there was no collision, and no wake turbulence problem. However a flight attendant broke her shoulder and another was also hospitalized with injuries that occurred during the evasive maneuvers.
More than 100,000 Southwest Airlines flights conducted in 44 airplanes appear to be out of compliance. FAA inspectors are looking into allegations of improper fuselage repairs. Inspectors believe mechanics may have inadequately reinforced the aircraft frame while installing new skin panels replacing frayed stressed areas. Southwest is federally responsible for repairs even when they are contracted out. This is not related to last years when Southwest used unapproved parts on 82 airplanes.
Aviation Technical Services in Everett, WA skin panel replacement procedures were performed without Federal approval.
Southwest said, “All of our maintenance operations promote aviation safety by working in coordination with the FAA, equipment manufacturers and aircraft maintenance organizations in every effort to ensure that our fleet is maintained in accordance with applicable regulations and is aligned with best practice in the industry”
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Contact photographer Yauhen Patsel
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from San Diego to Sacramento
Where: Sacramento
When: Jan 30 2010
Why: While on the landing approach, the plane flew through a flock of birds. The plane landed safely, however the plane sustained dents from bird strikes. It is not known if birds were ingested.
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 en route from Oakland to Burbank
Where: Burbank
When: January 20, 2010 9:57
Who: 81 passengers
Why: While en route from Sacramento, the Boeing 737 was struck by lightning. The plane landed safely at Bob Hope Airport, and was examined for damage from the lightning strike.
Two individuals aboard this flight were taken to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center for treatment.
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 en route from Sacramento to Burbank
Where: Burbank
When: January 20, 2010 9:38
Who: 69 passengers
Why: While en route from Sacramento, the Boeing 737 was struck by lightning. The plane landed safely at Bob Hope Airport, and was examined for damage from the lightning strike.
Pictured: A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer James Richard Covington
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from from Chicago to Salt Lake City
Where: Denver
When: December 4, 2009
Who: mother and child
Why: About 130 miles NW of Denver, an expectant mother aboard the 737 delivered a baby boy. A doctor was on board and assisted. The flight diverted to Denver when the baby was born. Mother and son were taken to a Denver hospital, and the flight continued to Salt Lake City.
Reportedly, the pilot announced that a new patient had just boarded.
Pictured: A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Chris Heaton
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Phoenix to Burbank
Where: LAX
When: Sep 8th 2009
Why: When a problem with the wing flaps was detected, the flight diverted from Burbank to LAX to take advantage of the longer runways.
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Orlando,FL to Denver,CO
Where: Tampa
When: Sep 7th 2009
Who: 129 (124 passengers and 5 crew)
Why: After the smoke indicator lights indicated the possibility of smoke, and smoke in the cabin was confirmed by fire crews, the flight landed in Tampa and passengers debarked via emergency slides (which caused a few minor injuries.) However a Southwest spokesperson denied there was smoke, and claimed that the emergency landing was a precaution. But passengers reported a strong smell of smoke, and that the fire alarm had gone off in the lavatory.
George’s Point of View
Hmm. Someone smoking in the bathroom?
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Baires Aviation Photography
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Oakland,CA to Vegas
Where: Oakland International Airport
When: Thursday August 20
Who: male passenger
Why: While en route to Vegas, a male passenger apparently accosted a female passenger. He exposed himself, and hit a female passenger, at which time flight attendants became involved. By the time the passenger was arrested, he was naked. The male passenger was taken by Oakland police; the female passenger was taken to an Oakland hospital.
What: Southwest Airlines en route from Bradley International Airport Hartford,CT to Orlando
Where: diverted to Long Island Islip Macarthur Airport
When: July 26, 2009
Who: 132 passengers and 5 crew
Why: After take-off, the crew detected an “electrical smell” and smoke; oxygen masks were deployed, and the plane diverted to Long Island where the passengers debarked without incident, and took an alternate 737-300 to Orlando. The original plane was taken out of service for a complete inspection which determined that the electrical smell originated from the burner of a coffee maker in the back of the aircraft.
George’s Point of View
Southwest, you are having a bad month.
Pictured: A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Departing Orlando
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Orlando Suarez
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from St. Louis to Orlando
Where: Orlando
When: Jul 14th 2009
Who: 134 passengers
Why: On approach to Orlando, an APU fire was indicated; however, after the passengers debarked, there was no trace of fire of heat or found by the fire crew.
We have found conflicting reports whether or not there was an actual fire within the apu that resisted being put out, or a control panel indication of a fire that did not exist.
*APU stands for Auxiliary power unit.
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Baltimore to Providence
Where: BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport
When: Jul 7th 2009
Who: 135 on board
Why: On takeoff, the plane flew into a flock of birds. About 40 small birds were found on the runway after the incident. The plane landed shortly after the bird strike. The plane was sent to be examined; and another plane was provided about 5 hours later to resume the flight.
George’s Point of View
The birds are at it again.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Manas Barooah
What: Southwest Airlines Flight 1040 Boeing 737-500 en route from Chicago to Fort Myers
Where: Columbus, Ga
When: Jun 14th 2009
Who: 122 people on board
Why: Over Columbus, the plane experienced low cabin pressure and performed an emergency landing. 5 hours later, the replacement Boeing picked up the stranded passengers and continued the flight. Maintenance did not release a public report of what caused the low cabin pressure, but if they tell me why, you’ll be the first to know.
View Large at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Mark Kopczak
What: Southwest Airlines en route from New Orleans to Houston
Where: HOUSTON, TEXAS at Hobby Airport
When: May 12 Tuesday evening 8 pm
Who: 47 passengers 5 crew
Why: When a tire caught on fire after landing at Hobby Airport in Houston Texas, passengers debarked via emergency slide and waited on the runway for transport to the terminal. Several injuries were sustained on the slide. The fire occurred apparently because of a flat incurred on landing.
George’s Point of View
I know it’s unfair to pick on airline company that has gone way out on the limb to keep the price of flying low and fair, but, maintenance is a must, there can’t be any cost-savings in maintenance.
Including the tires!
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Dallas Love,TX to Lubbock,TX
Where: Amarillo,TX
When: Apr 16th 2009 8:35 pm
Who: 123 passengers
Why: Approaching Lubbock in a storm, the Boeing was struck by lightning and successfully diverted to Amarillo. Later, a Boeing 737-700 took the passengers from Amarillo to Lubbock.
What: Southwest Airlines flight from Orlando, Fla., to Austin
Where: Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla.
When: April 12 2008
Who: 104 passengers
Why: There was no fire, but when a sensor detected an apparent problem in the cargo hold, the pilot chose to land immediately. Passengers lunched at the base’s Officer’s Club before boarding another Southwest flight which carried them to their destination.
What: Southwest Airlines Flight 1402 en route from Phoenix to Detroit
Where: Denver International Airport
When: after 2 p.m Saturday
Who: undisclosed woman
Why: While on board, the woman “became unruly and combative” leading up to a physical confrontation. She was escorted from the plane into federal custody as it is a felony to disrupt a commercial flight
George’s Point of View
We already put US Marshalls on plane to keep the bad guys in their seats and so they don’t try anything. With all the recent misbehavior on planes, maybe we’re looking at the wrong profession. Do we need on board referees? A corner for time out? Nuns with rulers?
What: Southwest Airlines twin-engine Boeing 737 en route from Las Vegas’s McCarran Airport to Long Island
Where: McCarran Airport
When: February 12, 2009
Who: 116 passengers , 5 crew members
Why: After takeoff, the left engine started misfiring, and every time it misfired the engine would flame. Nineteen minutes after takeoff, the plane returned to land at McCarran at 3:28 on one engine. Southwestern reportedly said that the engine was not on fire, but witnesses referred to flames.
Click here for full size photo on Airliners.net
Contact photographer Michael Van Bosch
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 [see example above] en route from the McCarran International Airport en route to Long Island, New York.
Where: McCarran International Airport Las Vegas
When: Thursday afternoon shortly after taking off–at 3:28 p.m.
Who: 118 passengers
Why: The crew of the Southwest Airlines Boeing shut down one engine when it caught on fire; and used the remaining working engine to make the emergency landing safely.
What: Southwest Flight 3726 passenger plane en route from Orlando to Washington, DC
Where: emergency landing in Jacksonville
When: 1/24/2009 2:45 pm Saturday
Who: 106 people on board
Why: After the pilot noticed smoke in the cockpit, the plane landed in Jacksonville. Usually when a pilot smells smoke, there’s a problem with the AC or Hydraulic fan. After the incident, technicians studied the plane and passengers were accommodated. There were no injuries.
What: Southwest Airlines Flight 1206 Boeing 737 out of Midway Airport en route to to Hartford, Conn
Where: emergency landing at the South Bend Regional Airport
When: 10 p.m. Sunday
Who: more than 100 passengers (132 passengers and five crew members)
Why: crew smelled smoke in the cockpit. South Bend mechanics checked out the plane and the flight continuwith an arrival time of 3:15 a.m. EDT
