By In a terrifying incident, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 narrowly escaped disaster off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, when adverse weather conditions forced a drastic course change. The plane plummeted to within a mere 400 feet of the Pacific Ocean, according to a flight memo obtained by Bloomberg News.
The incident occurred on April 11, when Southwest Flight 2786 departed from Honolulu International Airport, bound for Lihue Airport in Kauai. The aircraft experienced a sudden drop of nearly 16,000 feet, reaching an altitude of just 409 feet following an aborted landing attempt due to stormy weather.
The Southwest memo revealed that the close call was a result of poor visibility, which prevented the pilots from spotting the runway at their descent altitude. Despite the challenging weather conditions, the captain insisted that the less experienced “newer” first officer take command of the 100-mile interisland flight.
The first officer, with fewer miles under his belt, made a critical error by accidentally pushing the controls forward, throwing the plane off balance and causing a rapid descent after reducing speed. The warning system sounded off, alerting the pilot that the plane was dangerously close to the ground.
According to the memo, the captain instructed the first officer to increase engine power, forcing the aircraft into a steep climb of 8,500 feet per minute. Although the interisland trip should have taken only 22 minutes, the flight lasted nearly an hour and a half, departing at 6:45 pm and finally landing at 8:09 pm.
Fortunately, no passengers or crew members were injured during the incident. Southwest Airlines stated Fox News Digital, emphasizing their commitment to safety: “Nothing is more important to Southwest than safety. Through our robust Safety Management System, the event was addressed appropriately as we always strive for continuous improvement.”
The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating the incident to determine the exact cause and to ensure that proper safety protocols were followed.
This near-miss serves as a stark reminder of the importance of flight safety and the need for pilots to be well-trained and prepared to handle unexpected situations. As the investigation continues, the aviation industry and the public will closely monitor the findings to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
