WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal authorities are investigating an incident at a Tampa, Florida, airport when a Southwest Airlines jetliner flew as low as 150 feet (45 meters) over the water while still about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from its scheduled landing spot.
The pilots overshot the Tampa airport and instead landed in Fort Lauderdale, 200 miles (320 km) away.
The July 14 flight followed a similar accident last month in Oklahoma City, where a Southwest Airlines jet was flying at an abnormally low altitude several miles from the airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it was investigating the incident.
Southwest Flight 425, which took off from Columbus, Ohio, reached its lowest altitude while flying over Old Tampa Bay near the Courtney Campbell Causeway, according to Flightradar24. Three previous Southwest flights to Tampa also passed over the same spot at about 1,225 feet (375 meters), according to the airline’s flight tracking service.
“Southwest Airlines Flight 425 landed safely at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on July 14 after the crew aborted the planned approach to Tampa International Airport,” the airline said in a statement.
Dallas-based Southwest “Southwest Airlines is in contact with the FAA to identify and address any irregularities,” the airline said in a statement. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.”
The FAA is still investigating the June 18 crash of a Southwest Airlines jet. Low altitude warning The plane crashed about 525 feet (160 meters) above the ground, 9 miles (14 kilometers) above the Oklahoma City airport. Air traffic control received an automated alert from the control tower, who notified the flight crew. The plane circled the airport and then landed without incident.
In April, a Southwest Airlines plane went into a steep dive off the coast of Hawaii, coming within 400 feet (120 meters) of the ocean before beginning to climb. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating the Southwest jet’s unusual dive. “Dutch Roll” Damage to the tail of the plane was discovered after the flight from Phoenix to Oakland, California, after it had been parked outside during a severe storm, investigators said.
