A Boeing aircraft recently took passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight on a frightening ride.
The unsettling event, which took place on May 25, left the 175 passengers onboard Boeing 737 aircraft flight number 746 scared for their lives. The plane’s tail began to swing left and right, forcing its wings to rock back and forth.
In addition to creating an unpleasant experience for all at an altitude of 32,000 feet, the aircraft, which had been en route from Phoenix to Oakland, also sustained considerable damage during a rare phenomenon known as a “Dutch roll.”
As detailed by Boeing, the oscillations of a Dutch roll have been reproduced and studied at length to improve aircraft aerodynamics and increase flight safety. When this situation occurs due to asymmetric input from, for instance, the wind or the pilot, considerable maneuvering is required to regain control and balance.
The Southwest pilots ultimately resolved the situation and safely landed the plane in Oakland. No one was injured, according to the New York Post.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched an investigation into the incident, collaborating closely with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Boeing to determine the root cause and prevent future occurrences.
A preliminary FAA report reveals that the event may have been caused by damage to a power control unit responsible for providing backup power to the aircraft’s rudder.
The unsettling event comes amid rising concerns surrounding the safety of Boeing aircraft and other problems in the air travel industry.
A scathing report by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in 2020 triggered this increased scrutiny. It identified systemic failures at Boeing that ultimately contributed to fatal crashes involving the 737 Max.
In January of this year, safety concerns surrounding Boeing’s aircraft were reignited by an incident involving a Boeing 737 Max-9 operated by Alaska Airlines. A door plug was blown out shortly after takeoff, leaving a hole and forcing an emergency landing. The Department of Justice opened an investigation in response a few months later.
Another incident at Boeing’s South Carolina manufacturing plant in May also garnered federal attention. A worker alerted their supervisor about the potential falsification of inspections for the wing-to-body attachments on certain Boeing 787 planes. As a result, the FAA opened a new investigation into the embattled company.
The string of incidents at Boeing has led to increased FAA oversight, which is expected to delay the manufacturer’s production and delivery of 737 Max planes, as covered by The Dallas Express. According to the Aviation Safety Network (ASN), 529 aviation accidents and incidents, including 234 hull loss occurrences, involving Boeing 737 airplanes have been recorded. The ASN claims that its accident database is updated daily.
Some critics have alleged that companies like Boeing and Southwest have been prioritizing “diversity, equity, and inclusion” initiatives at the expense of safety and business fundamentals.