Safety Concerns Raised: Two Near-Misses Involving Inexperienced Pilots

In April, a Southwest Airlines flight nearly crashed into the ocean off the coast of Hawaii after a pilot accidentally sent the plane into a dive. The airline sent an internal memo to pilots last week explaining that bad weather forecasts led to the captain putting a newer first officer in control of the Boeing 737 Max 8 plane. When the plane had to abort its landing at Kauai’s Lihue Airport due to bad weather, the less-experienced pilot inadvertently pushed the steering yoke forward without reducing the plane’s speed, causing it to plummet from 1,000 feet to just 400 feet above the ocean in seconds.

In similar circumstances earlier this year, a United Airlines flight plummeted shortly after leaving Maui. Flight 1722 was on its way to San Francisco in heavy rain conditions when a miscommunication between the pilots caused the plane to nosedive within 800 feet of the ocean. A first officer misinterpreted instructions on setting the plane’s flaps, leading to a brief but concerning dive.

The Bloomberg report characterized the first officer as less experienced, but first officers on major airlines still possess significant flying experience. Southwest Airlines stated that safety is their top priority and that they prioritize continuous improvement through their Safety Management System. Similarly, United Airlines emphasizes that safety is at the forefront of everything they do and they are committed to providing their customers with safe flights at all times.