The tranquility of Yukon, Oklahoma was abruptly disrupted just past midnight on Wednesday when Southwest Airlines Flight 4069, a Boeing 737 aircraft, was seen ominously cruising less than 500 feet above the town’s homes. The aircraft even skimmed over a local high school, causing fear and shock among the town’s residents who initially believed the aircraft was about to crash.
The Boeing 737 MAX-8 was observed on numerous doorbell cameras, eerily floating over houses before disappearing from view. One startled resident shared on a local Facebook page, Yukon Happenings, “It woke me up and I thought it was gonna hit my house.” This sudden descent immediately registered concerns with air traffic control who promptly checked on the flight’s status.
The communication between the air traffic controller and the pilot was recorded. The controller’s worry was evident as he issued a low altitude alert and asked the pilot if everything was okay. The pilot assured the controller that there weren’t any issues with the aircraft.
The flight, which had originated from Las Vegas, soon regained altitude, rising from around 450 feet to over 1,000 feet as it passed over Yukon High School. It eventually landed safely at a different runway at Will Rogers World Airport. Air Traffic Control personnel later confirmed the Boeing 737 Max-8 experienced no issues.
Despite the safe landing, the incident left the residents of Yukon apprehensive. A resident, Spencer Basoco, described his experience: “I was kind of like halfway in between sleep, being awake, and I just hear that WHOOSH…And I thought at first, like a storm was blowing in… because it just sounded like a wall of wind. And I just see a plane.”
A Southwest Airlines plane from Las Vegas flew dangerously low and came significantly close to the ground when it was still miles away from the airport in Oklahoma City.
The incident triggered a low-altitude warning, prompting the air traffic control to check the situation with… pic.twitter.com/d38UbCeeB8
— Vani Mehrotra (@vani_mehrotra) June 21, 2024
Southwest officials have since announced that they are working with the Federal Aviation Administration to determine the cause of the sudden descent. They emphasized that the safety of their customers and employees was their foremost priority.
This event in Oklahoma adds to a string of issues that Boeing has faced in recent years, which have garnered global attention. From faulty software systems causing catastrophic crashes to broken landing gears and doors popping off mid-flight, these incidents have plunged Boeing into heavy scrutiny. Allegations by employees, both current and former, regarding safety shortcuts have spurred investigations by regulatory authorities.
Perhaps most concerning are the whistleblowers who have been allegedly terminated for voicing concerns about the company’s safety culture. Sam Mohawk, an investigator at Boeing’s assembly plant, is the latest whistleblower who claimed Boeing concealed evidence and used “nonconforming” parts in assembling 737 Max jets.
These allegations have triggered skepticism from lawmakers. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, criticized Boeing’s CEO, Dave Calhoun, for his role in the issues. He remarked, “Boeing needs to stop thinking about the next earning call, and start thinking about the next generation.”
