A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 experienced a sudden, sharp descent while approaching Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City, passing only 500 feet over buildings before regaining altitude and landing safely. The incident sparked concern among local residents and prompted an investigation by Southwest Airlines and the FAA.
On August 14, 2005, Helios Airways Flight 522 crashed into a hill near Grammatiko, Greece, killing all 121 passengers and crew onboard. The Boeing 737-300 was flying from Larnaca, Cyprus, to Prague, Czech Republic, with a layover in Athens, Greece. The aircraft lost cabin pressure shortly after takeoff due to a pressurization failure, causing the pilots and passengers to lose consciousness. The plane flew on autopilot for several hours before crashing into the mountains. Investigators uncovered a series of systemic failures at Helios Airways leading up to the crash, including issues with the aircraft’s environmental control system and a failure to properly set the pressurization mode. The crash led to changes in aviation regulations to improve safety and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
A FlySafair Boeing 737 made an emergency landing at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Sunday, April 21, after a wheel came off shortly after takeoff. The incident was captured on video, which showed smoke coming from the unprotected wheel hub. Passengers also reported hearing a loud bang as the plane touched down on the runway and screeched to a stop. Boeing referred inquiries to FlySafair, which has not yet commented on the incident.
A FlySafair flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town was forced to return to OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday due to a missing landing gear wheel. The aircraft landed safely, but the incident caused temporary runway closures. Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the malfunction.
