Passenger Jet Makes Sudden Descent Near Oklahoma City, Prompting Safety Alert
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 flying from Las Vegas to Oklahoma City dipped to a dangerously low altitude early Wednesday morning, triggering an automated low altitude alert from air traffic control. The incident occurred around midnight, just nine miles from Will Rogers World Airport.
The plane, carrying passengers, descended to roughly 500 feet above buildings, startling residents in the Oklahoma City suburb of Yukon. According to news reports, some residents even believed the plane was going to hit their houses.
Air traffic control immediately contacted the pilots to confirm the plane's status. The pilot assured the controller that there were no problems with the aircraft and quickly regained altitude. The plane then circled back before landing safely at a different runway.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the cause of the sudden descent. While the exact reason remains unknown, there are a number of possibilities, including mechanical issues or pilot error.
