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Flight Tracker Map > Blog > Aviation news > Aviation safety > Tower warns Southwest of low altitude on approach
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- Updated: June 20, 2024
- Southwest Airlines flight 4069 descended to ~525 feet AGL 9 miles from the airport
- Air traffic control received a low altitude alert and notified the pilots
- Southwest and the FAA are aware of the incident
Air traffic controllers in Oklahoma City received a low altitude alert for Southwest Airlines flight 4069 as it approached Will Rogers World Airport just after midnight local time on 19 June. The aircraft had been cleared for an approach to the airport’s Runway 13 when it descended to approximately 525 feet above the ground about 9 miles from the airport. The incident was first reported by The Oklahoman on 20 June.
"Southwest 4069, low altitude alert. You good out there?"
The lowest received barometric altitude from Southwest 4069 was 1,725 at 05:06 UTC. ADS-B data includes the barometric altitude, reported at standard atmospheric pressure. GPS altitude data is also transmitted by the aircraft. Neither of those altitude values provide the height above ground level (AGL), but it is possible to use the reported values to calculate the height of the aircraft. In this case, correcting the values for local atmospheric conditions and elevation provides a value of approximately 525 feet above ground level as the lowest point reached by the aircraft.
The image above shows the lowest point reached by the aircraft relative to the assigned landing runway at Oklahoma City Will Rogers World Airport. According to air traffic control audio captured by LiveATC.net, the controller queried the Southwest flight, “Southwest 4069, low altitude alert. You good out there?” Unfortunately the pilots side of the conversation was not captured.
Weather at the time was nominal with good visibility. The active METAR at KOKC | OKC indicated winds from the southeast with 10 miles visibility.
190452Z 14011KT 10SM FEW060 FEW200 SCT250 26/20 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP129 T02560200
From its lowest point, the aircraft climbed to 3,000 feet and approached Runway 17R, safely landing 10 minutes later at 05:16 UTC. Southwest tells The Oklahoman it is in contact with the FAA regarding the incident.
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Aircraft information
Southwest flight WN4069 was operated by Boeing 737-800 registered N8555Z. The aircraft is powered by two CFM56-7B engines. It was delivered to Southwest Airlines new in December 2017. It is not a 737 MAX.
WN-SWA
- Published:June 20, 2024
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Ian Petchenik’s love of aviation began at an early age growing up next to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. As Flightradar24’s director of communications and co-host of the AvTalk podcast Ian now gets to share that passion for aviation with millions of Flightradar24 users and listeners around the world.
More about Ian Petchenik
Ian Petchenik’s love of aviation began at an early age growing up next to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. As Flightradar24’s director of communications and co-host of the AvTalk podcast Ian now gets to share that passion for aviation with millions of Flightradar24 users and listeners around the world.
More about Ian Petchenik
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