Southwest Airlines Safety Record: Accidents, Incidents, and Facts

Southwest Airlines has established a reputation for being one of the safest and most reliable airlines in the United States. However, the airline's safety record is still subject to scrutiny and important details. This article aims to clarify any misconceptions and provide an accurate account of Southwest Airlines' safety history, including a detailed look at any incidents and crashes that have occurred.

Current Safety Record

According to the most recent data as of August 2023, Southwest Airlines has an excellent safety record. To date, the airline has not lost any aircraft in any crashes with loss of life. While the company has experienced some notable incidents over the years, none of them have resulted in fatal accidents on board the planes. One of the most notable incidents occurred in 2000 when Southwest Flight 1455 overran the runway during landing in Burbank, California, causing injuries but no fatalities.

Historical Incidents: Runway Overruns and Non-Fatal Accidents

While Southwest Airlines has a commendable safety record, it is essential to acknowledge that the airline has faced a few incidents, primarily related to runway overruns. These incidents usually do not result in fatalities but can lead to significant injuries due to the impact and subsequent damage to the aircraft.

According to aviation safety reports and news sources, the airline has experienced nine incidents since 2000. Among these, two incidents involved hull losses, which mean the aircraft was essentially totaled. The other seven incidents were runway overruns or other types of incidents. Notably, in 2020, a Southwest flight overran the runway at Chicago Midway and tragically struck a car on the road, resulting in one death.

Other Serious Incidents

While runway overruns are serious, they are part of the normal risk profile for any airline. Other incidents have occurred that have resulted in fatalities, though not directly related to a full crash. For instance, in 2017, an incident on the ground resulted in one death. This incident involved a passenger suffocating after being subdued by other passengers for being potentially dangerous. Additionally, in 2018, a woman was partially ejected when an engine exploded and shattered her window, leading to her untimely death. Another fatality occurred in 2020 when a landing inadvertently happened on a taxiway during a pilots strike.

Runway Overruns and Airborne to Ground Crashes

It is critical to distinguish between runway overruns and what is commonly referred to as a crash. An airborne to ground accident involves an aircraft in flight crashing on the ground or into another object, which is rare in the case of Southwest Airlines. Instead, most incidents have been related to runway overruns, which occur when an aircraft overruns the runway, either during takeoff or landing, often due to an error in judgment or mechanical issues.

The term "hull loss" is often used to describe an event where the aircraft is destroyed, but the term "crash" typically implies that the aircraft is airborne and has come to rest on the ground in an unintended manner. In the context of Southwest Airlines, incidents have not involved the aircraft taking off and then crashing after achieving altitude, which is the definition of a crash in aviation.

Conclusion

Southwest Airlines can take pride in its safety record, which is characterized by a lack of fatal accidents and a focus on preventing runway overruns. While the airline has faced some challenging incidents, the vast majority of these have not resulted in fatalities. For the most current and detailed information, aviation safety reports and credible news sources remain the best resources.

To summarize the key points:

Southwest Airlines has not experienced any fatal crashes since its founding. Notable incidents have included runway overruns and non-fatal accidents. Two hull losses have occurred, but these were not full crashes with loss of life. Other incidents have involved fatalities on the ground or during ground operations. Airborne to ground crashes are extremely rare in the Southwest Airlines fleet.