FAA Probes Southwest Airlines Low Flight Over Oklahoma City

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating an incident which saw a Southwest Airlines aircraft to send to unusually low level in the Oklahoma City area on 19 June.

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Southwest WN4069 Las Vegas-Oklahoma City ATC Low Altitude Warning

A Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Oklahoma City made an unusual descent which was low enough to trigger an ATC automated low altitude warning.

Southwest WN4069 Las Vegas-Oklahoma City

Flight track of Southwest Airlines WN4069 showing low approach over Oklahoma City

Southwest Airlines flight WN4069, a Boeing 737-800 inbound from Las Vegas was approximately 9 miles from Will Rogers World Airport when the alert sounded.

According to flight data the aircraft descended following a clearance to make a visual approach to the airport.

The approaching aircraft apparently descended to approximately 500 feet as it overflew Yukon high school in a built-up area.

The flight then regained altitude and circled before making its final approach and landing to another runway. The unusually low altitude raised the concerns of local residents and school officials.

ATC Low Altitude Warning

The aircraft was low enough to trigger the air traffic control (ATC) warning, and the FAA is now investigating the circumstances and cause of the low approach.

Southwest Airlines has released a statement indicating they are following their established safety protocols to determine what transpired. There were no reported injuries on board the aircraft, and no reported anomalies with the aircraft.

A Southwest Airlines 737-800 approaches to land. — Tomás Del Coro from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The aircraft conducting the WN4069 domestic service from Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport was a Boeing 737-800, registered N8555Z. This is a 6.60 narrowbody aircraft belonging to the carrier Southwest Airlines.

It has been an operational service with the airline since its initial delivery in December 2017.

Passengers on the flight have not yet publicly commented on the incident. Yukon High School officials are reported to be cooperating with the FAA’s investigation.