LThe US Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into a Southwest Airlines passenger plane that flew just 500 feet above a residential neighborhood in Yukon, Oklahoma, causing widespread fear among residents. , report the American media.
The incident happened last Wednesday, just before midnight. Southwest Airlines Flight 4069, a Boeing 737 from Las Vegas, still had to travel 9 miles to the Oklahoma City airport. However, the plane descended to an altitude of only 160 meters, according to Flightradar data and confirmed by videos made public. For comparison, an airplane normally flies at an altitude of 9 to 12 kilometers.
This drop in altitude triggered an alarm among air traffic controllers. In a recording that has emerged, an air traffic controller can be heard asking the pilot what is happening. “Yes, we are making a loop,” replies the pilot. After consultation, the pilot receives clear instructions on what to do to land on another runway. Eventually, he regained altitude and landed safely.
The incident caused panic among Yukon residents. “I was falling asleep in bed when I suddenly heard a very loud noise,” Spencer Basoco told KFOR. “It was like a big storm suddenly broke out. I looked out and saw this plane. » On Facebook, several residents also expressed their anguish. One even wrote: “I was really scared that the plane would hit my house. »
The US Federal Aviation Administration has begun an investigation into the incident, which fortunately resulted in no injuries. “After an automatic alert sounded, an air traffic controller informed the crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 4069 that the plane had descended to a low altitude nine miles (16 kilometers) from Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City,” the Administration said in a statement.
Southwest Airlines also communicated about the incident. “Southwest follows its robust safety management system and remains in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration to understand and address any irregularities with the aircraft’s approach to the airport. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and staff. »
This is the second incident in a short time involving a Southwest Airlines flight. In April, an incident almost went wrong when a plane over the Pacific, near the island of Kauai, suddenly descended to 400 feet in altitude instead of continuing to climb.
Read also
Aviation safety: why has Boeing’s image deteriorated further?
