The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating a recent incident involving a Southwest Airlines flight that veered off course and flew dangerously close to the air traffic control tower at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. The incident occurred last month when the plane, approaching for landing at the busy airport, flew off course due to bad weather. Data from Flightradar24.com showed that the plane circled the airport once and then flew as low as 300 feet (90 meters) before an air traffic controller urgently instructed the pilots to climb to 2000 feet (600 meters) as they were not lined up with the runway.
The plane was ultimately diverted to Baltimore, where it landed safely after encountering turbulence and low visibility at LaGuardia Airport. Southwest Airlines, the Dallas-based carrier operating the flight, stated that they are reviewing the event as part of their safety systems. The flight had originated in Nashville, Tennessee, and had a total of 150 passengers and crew members on board. The incident was reported by CBS News and prompted investigations by both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The FAA is currently looking into whether the aircraft did indeed fly over the air traffic control tower at LaGuardia Airport during the incident. The NTSB, on the other hand, stated that they are also investigating the matter but do not plan to issue any immediate reports. The audio captured by LiveATC.net revealed the urgency in the air traffic controller’s voice as they directed the pilots to abandon their landing and climb to a higher altitude. The controller noted that the plane was not lined up with the runway and appeared to be east of the intended landing route.
Southwest Airlines mentioned that the plane diverted to Baltimore due to the adverse weather conditions at LaGuardia Airport. After a brief stop in Baltimore, the aircraft returned to New York, as confirmed by the airline. The incident highlights the importance of safety protocols and procedures in aviation, particularly during challenging weather conditions. The airline industry is closely monitoring the situation as the investigations by the FAA and NTSB progress to determine the cause of the flight deviation and potential safety lapses that occurred during the Southwest Airlines flight.
