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Southwest 737 flies over Oklahoma City suburbs after bizarre incident

Gillberg
Southwest 737 flies over Oklahoma City suburbs after bizarre incident

note: This post has been updated to reflect some new information and to share the excellent VASAviation video along with the ATC audio showing exactly what happened.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating another incident involving a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737. This incident is particularly strange because conditions were fine, which makes one wonder what exactly was wrong with the pilots.

Were the pilots of the Southwest 737 in Oklahoma City confused?

This incident involves Southwest Airlines flight WN4069 from Las Vegas (LAS) to Oklahoma City (OKC), which departed on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. The flight was operated by a six-year-old Boeing 737-800 with registration code N8555Z.

The 986-mile flight was completely routine until shortly before landing (which was just after noon on June 19). The plane was cleared for a visual approach to runway 13 and the pilots claimed to have the airport in sight.

However, about nine miles from the airport, the plane descended to an altitude of about 500 feet above the ground while flying toward the airport. Suffice it to say, this is much lower than an airplane should be at this distance.

According to air traffic control audio, the pilots weren’t even aware of what they were doing until the air traffic controller alerted them via a low-altitude warning in the tower:

Air traffic controller: “Southwest 4069, low level warning, everything OK out there?”
Southwest pilot: “Yes, we are flying around, Southwest 4069.”
Air traffic controller: “Do you want to make a pass and turn around for 13, or do you want to continue your approach?”
Southwest pilot: “Yes, we’ll be back at 5.”
Air traffic controller: “Okay, 17R?”
Southwest pilot: “Yes, we do.”

It is obvious that it is not normal for a 737 to fly at an altitude of only 500 feet, at 128 knots (according to Flightradar24) and 9 miles from the airport.

The aircraft eventually completed a go-around and landed safely on runway 17R a few minutes later.

Flight route for Southwest 4069

Below you can see a VASAviation video of the incident, which also includes audio from air traffic control.

This became a big issue in the Oklahoma City suburb of Yukon, where many residents were awakened and frightened to hear such a large aircraft at such a low altitude in the middle of the night.

A Southwest spokesperson issued the following statement:

“Southwest follows its robust safety management system and is in communication with the Federal Aviation Administration to understand and correct any irregularities as the aircraft approaches the airport. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.”

What on earth happened here?

I’m excited to see what the FAA finds in their investigation of this incident. Usually when we see something like this, it’s easy enough to immediately say, “Oh, I understand how that could have happened.” For example, we recently learned of a horrific incident involving a Southwest 737 MAX in Hawaii where the pilots had to contend with terrible weather, and it’s easy to see how something could have gone wrong.

In this case, however, the skies were clear and the approach was clearly possible, and the pilots claimed they had the airport in sight. Yet when they were nine miles from the airport, they descended to 500 feet. Worst of all, the pilots apparently didn’t realize what had happened until the air traffic controller asked if everything was OK.

This incident probably falls into one of two categories:

  • The pilots were not aware that they were at such a low altitude
  • The pilots were aware of their altitude and speed and were preparing to land on a runway other than the intended one.

The latter scenario seems much more likely, as the plane appeared to be in landing position based on its speed. And that begs the question…where did the pilots think they were landing? Did they mistake one of the roads or highways in the area for a runway and prepare to land there?

Where were the Southwest pilots trying to land?

Interestingly, another nearby airport that was closer to their location is Wiley Post Airport (PWA). It has runways with the same alignment as Will Rogers World Airport (OKC), including Runway 13 and Runway 17R. Although they were significantly closer to Wiley Post Airport than Will Rogers World Airport, they were already south of the former airport by this time.

Oklahoma City’s other airport

Over the years we’ve heard some stories about planes landing on the wrong runway or even on an airport taxiway. But almost landing in an area that’s not even close to the airport is news to me…

Bottom line

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 made an “unconventional” approach to Oklahoma City Airport. About nine miles from the airport, the plane was at an altitude of 500 feet and flying at a very low speed. The pilots claimed they had the airport in sight and were conducting a visual approach.

The air traffic controller received a low altitude warning and asked the Southwest pilots if everything was OK. They then initiated a go-around. This incident is now under investigation and I am curious to see what the outcome is…

What do you think about this Southwest 737 incident in Oklahoma City?

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