Dallas, Texas – A recent incident involving a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft in Hawaii has raised concerns about passenger safety. The aircraft came within just 400 feet of crashing into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Kauai due to severe weather conditions that forced pilots to make a quick decision.
According to a memo obtained by Bloomberg News, the white-knuckling moment occurred during Southwest Flight 2786 on April 11 from Honolulu International Airport to Lihue Airport in Kauai. Passengers on board were left terrified as the aircraft plummeted from nearly 16,000 feet to an altitude of just 409 feet.
The memo revealed that the incident was a result of an aborted landing attempt caused by poor visibility due to the weather conditions. Despite the challenging circumstances, the captain decided to let a less-experienced first officer take command of the flight, a move that led to the drastic drop in altitude.
The first officer unintentionally pushed forward on the control column, causing the plane to descend rapidly. The sudden movement triggered a warning system alerting the crew that the aircraft was dangerously close to the terrain.
In response to the crisis, the captain instructed the first officer to increase thrust, allowing the plane to climb rapidly at a rate of 8,500 feet per minute. The 100-mile interisland flight that should have taken about 22 minutes ultimately had to return to Honolulu after the harrowing ordeal.
Although no injuries were reported, the Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating the incident to ensure the safety of future flights. Southwest Airlines emphasized its commitment to safety and continuous improvement in handling such situations.
This incident is reminiscent of a similar incident involving a United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner off Maui in 2022. The aviation industry continues to prioritize safety measures to prevent such close calls in the future.