In a harrowing incident that has only recently come to light, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 passenger jet narrowly avoided a catastrophic crash into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Kaua'i in April. The plane, operating as Flight 2786 from Honolulu to Līhuʻe, plummeted from an altitude of about 1,000 feet at an abnormally rapid rate of over 4,000 feet per minute, coming within a mere 400 feet of the ocean's surface before the crew managed to pull the aircraft up and avoid disaster.
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the previously unreported mishap, which occurred after adverse weather conditions forced the pilots to abort their landing at Līhuʻe Airport due to poor visibility of the runway. Southwest Airlines, in response to inquiries from Bloomberg News, sent a memo to its pilots last week reviewing the incident, emphasizing that "nothing is more important to Southwest than safety."
According to flight tracking data analyzed by Kit Darby, a flight instructor and former commercial airline pilot, the jet's pilot was "pitching up and pitching down with the power and close to out of control, very close." Darby likened the experience to a roller coaster ride, highlighting the severity of the situation.
The incident unfolded when the plane's captain, who had put a less experienced first officer in command of the short flight, noticed the co-pilot "inadvertently" pushing forward on the control column while following the movement of the thrust lever caused by the jet's automatic throttle. This action led to a decrease in the plane's speed, causing it to descend rapidly.
As the aircraft approached the ocean at an alarming rate, a warning system began blaring, alerting the pilots that they were getting too close to the surface. The captain immediately ordered an increase in thrust, prompting the plane to climb at an aggressive 8,500 feet per minute, a stark contrast to the typical descent rate of 1,500 to 2,000 feet per minute during the early stages of a landing approach.
Following the incident, Southwest Airlines determined that proper pilot monitoring and improved communication between crew members are critical to preventing such near-disasters in the future. The company has committed to reviewing industry and internal training protocols and procedures to ensure the safety of its passengers and crew.
Remarkably, the plane and its occupants emerged unscathed from the ordeal, with Flight 2786 returning safely to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. The National Transportation Safety Board has not been made aware of the incident, and the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association has declined to comment on the matter.
As the FAA continues its investigation into the near-crash, the aviation industry and the public alike are left to reflect on the importance of vigilant safety measures and the quick thinking of well-trained pilots in averting what could have been a tragic event.
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