Federal aviation officials have launched an investigation into a Southwest Airlines flight that triggered a low-altitude alert as it approached Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City early Wednesday morning.
The incident, involving Southwest Airlines Flight 4069, took place at 12:05 a.m. when the aircraft descended to about 525 feet above ground level while still nine miles away from the airport, according to data from Flightradar24.
An air traffic controller monitoring the flight issued a warning to the pilots after an automated low-altitude alert sounded, prompting immediate action from the crew. The controller then instructed the crew to maintain a safe altitude of 3,000 feet, reported NBC 5 DFW. The Boeing 737, carrying passengers and Southwest Airlines staff, eventually landed without incident just after midnight.
This incident comes as companies such as Southwest Airlines face accusations that they have prioritized “diversity, equity, and inclusion” over their commitment to safety and core business principles, as recently covered by The Dallas Express.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an inquiry to clarify the factors contributing to the aircraft’s unusually low descent over suburban areas of Oklahoma City.
Southwest Airlines has pledged full cooperation with the FAA throughout the investigation process. Passengers aboard the flight were reportedly informed of the situation promptly and reassured by the crew during the remainder of the flight, according to NBC 5. The FAA routinely investigates incidents involving deviations from established flight paths or altitudes to ensure compliance with aviation safety regulations.
However, this incident took place less than a week after an investigation was launched into a Boeing flight that threw passengers into a frightening ride referred to in the aviation industry as “The Dutch Roll,” as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Furthermore, earlier this year, Boeing faced renewed safety concerns following two significant incidents.
In one incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft in January, a door plug blew out shortly after takeoff, causing a hole and necessitating an emergency landing. This incident prompted the Department of Justice to conduct an investigation into the matter.
Another incident occurred at Boeing’s South Carolina manufacturing plant in May. A worker raised concerns about possible falsification of aircraft inspections, and the FAA launched a separate investigation into the company’s safety standards.
Some critics have claimed that companies like Southwest and Boeing have placed more of an emphasis on DEI initiatives than safety. According to an internal company presentation shared on X, Southwest Airlines announced intentions to double racial diversity and enhance gender diversity within its Senior Leadership team by 2025.
