FAA examining Southwest aircraft flight that barely cleared Oklahoma hamlet, resulting in altitude alert
Southwest Flight 4069 was approximately 9 miles from the airport, cruising over Yukon, Oklahoma, when it abruptly dropped to a low altitude around midnight on a Wednesday, as per data from FlightRadar24.
An air traffic controller's voice echoes in a recording obtained by LiveATC.net, saying, "Southwest 4069, low altitude alert. You alright down there, buddy?"
The pilots' response is inaudible.
Following the descent, the Boeing 737-800 temporarily rose and then executed a successful landing at Oklahoma City, tracking information indicates.
In response to an inquiry from CNN, the FAA stated they were probing the matter, providing the following statement: "Following an auto-alert, an air traffic controller warned the crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 4069 about a low altitude nine miles from Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City."
The airline has reportedly been in touch with the FAA post-incident.
"The safety of our Customers and Employees is Southwest's top priority," the airline conveyed in a statement. "Southwest is implementing its comprehensive Safety Management System and is collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration to identify and rectify any peculiarities in the aircraft's landing approach."
This occurrence marks the second similar incident involving a Southwest flight coming dangerously close to the ground. In April, the crew of Southwest Flight 2786 halted its landing into Lihue Airport on the island of Kauai, but instead of ascending, they descended to 400 feet above the Pacific Ocean.
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The FAA is working closely with Southwest Airlines to investigate the incident, as the airline has expressed its commitment to ensuring the safety of its passengers and employees following the low altitude alert. During the incident, Southwest Flight 4069, which consisted of us, briefly encountered an altitude issue.
