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A Southwest Airlines jet dramatically dropped to 150 feet above the water off the coast of Florida — and now authorities are investigating the dangerous plunge, federal officials said.
The flight from Columbus, Ohio, to Tampa reached its low-flying point over Old Tampa Bay near the Courtney Campbell Causeway on July 14, according to Flightradar25.
Flights taken over the region typically fly at around 1,225 feet in altitude, according to the flight-tracking service.
The plane skipped the Tampa airport, where it was scheduled to arrive — and instead landed about 200 miles away in Fort Lauderdale, according to Southwest Airlines.
“Southwest Flight 425 safely diverted to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on July 14 after the crew discontinued their planned approach into Tampa International Airport,” the airline said in a statement.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday that it was investigating the incident.
Meanwhile, the Dallas-based airline added that it is in contact with the FAA “to understand and address any irregularities.”
“Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees,” the airline added.
Southwest has had several other flights in recent months that have raised safety concerns, including at least two other incidents involving planes appearing to fly at dangerously low altitudes.
The agency is still investigating a June 18 Southwest flight that triggered a low-altitude alert when it was about 525 feet above the ground about 9 miles from the Oklahoma City airport.
In April, a Southwest flight also came within about 400 feet of the ocean off Hawaii after the pilot accidentally pushed forward on the control column and the plane hit a maximum descent rate of about 4,400 feet per minute.
With Post wires.
