SWA touchdown at wrong airport

[byrmar]

Looks like Southwest at KPLK, not KBBG.

 

[proav]

KY3 news out of Springfield, MO should have some info on it before to long. Maybe on their 10 o'clock news if not before.

I feel bad for the crew. Bad news landing at wrong airport but they did a bang up job of getting it stopped on less than 3800' of runway! If your familiar with that runway you'll know there is a major drop off right at the end.

 

[BEfly]

Oh. My. God.

 

[Newkem]

Brake Stompin'

https://twitter.com/ScottDallasTX/status/422555931080011776/photo/1

Easier to stomp hard on those brakes with sheet kicker cowboy boots on.

Good thing cause the 60 foot cliff at the end would have hurt some.

Thank GOD all are ok.

 

[Pattern-Master]

I don't know how it happened, but does'nt 737-700 have glass cockpit with moving map. When i fly, especially at night, i load in either an approach or a visual into the FMS and paints me a dummy proof line right to runway with glideslope and all. I mean it's not that hard,is it? Ahhh, what do i know, i'm just a charter pilot flying a small jet.

 

[scarface]

Not to throw stones at the Southwest pilots, because I don't know all the particulars, but it seems like you have the game plan down pretty well. The glass can keep you out of trouble by giving you good SA. I'm going to guess that guys who fly into unfamiliar airports aren't as susceptible to these embarrassments as those who fly into areas on a routine basis.
When I flew out of CXY many years ago there was more than one occasion where the big iron mistook us for MDT and tried to land at our airport, which didn't even remotely resemble MDT. Fortunately ATC would intervene and send them around so no static displays would be forthcoming.

 

[BuckMurdock1]

Not to throw stones at the Southwest pilots, because I don't know all the particulars, but it seems like you have the game plan down pretty well. The glass can keep you out of trouble by giving you good SA. I'm going to guess that guys who fly into unfamiliar airports aren't as susceptible to these embarrassments as those who fly into areas on a routine basis.
When I flew out of CXY many years ago there was more than one occasion where the big iron mistook us for MDT and tried to land at our airport, which didn't even remotely resemble MDT. Fortunately ATC would intervene and send them around so no static displays would be forthcoming.

Yeah-- good point on ATC's role. I wonder if Springfield is a non-radar environment (been a long time since I've been there). If they see you lining up for the wrong airport, they should absolutely say something. Saves everyone a whole lotta headache (not to mention embarrassment). In this case, it could've saved lives if the SWA guys didn't do a nice carrier trap and save the day. Sadly, I can see criminal negligence charges for the SWA pilots, since something tells me that a retrospective calculation of their required RWY distance may be a bit longer. Too bad they didn't accidentally land on a 10,000 footer.

 

[BentOver]

yet another complacency mistake that makes us all look bad... Can't wait for all the "you're gonna land at the correct airport, right?" comments from passengers who think they are being sooo funny..

 

[CX880]

How about congratulating this crew for not killing anybody? There's worse things that have happened to humanity than two pilots landing at the wrong airport.

 

[BoeingBaller]

it was a 300 no?

 

[jetalc]

How about congratulating this crew for not killing anybody? There's worse things that have happened to humanity than two pilots landing at the wrong airport.

Seriously? It seems that they didn't kill anybody in spite of the mistake. That deserves congratulations?

 

[AKAAB]

Congratulations...for being lucky.

 

[jetalc]

Better lucky than competent, I guess. I don't think this is a SWA issue, nothing to do with being "cowboys" or "pushing the envelope." Simple mistake, with a potentially grave outcome that they somehow avoided. Amazing how SWA seems to have largely avoided the appropriate scathing press - last video I saw of the incident was the airplane taking off with everyone on the ground cheering...seriously?

 

[The Gimp]

How about congratulating this crew for not killing anybody? There's worse things that have happened to humanity than two pilots landing at the wrong airport.

If I had a family member on that flight, congratulations would be the last thing I would be sending.

All anybody in the back of the airplane is requiring from the guys up front is to get them there safely.

If they had the automation, why not use it, and if people are getting to lazy to use it, than there is a serious problem.