Southwest Airlines Plane That Experienced 'Dutch Roll' Mid-Flight Under Investigation by FAA
According to a report from the Federal Aviation Administration, the flight was en route from Phoenix to Oakland when the Boeing 737's tail began to move
Aviation authorities are investigating an unusual phenomenon that took place on a Southwest flight last month in which the plane experienced a movement called a "Dutch roll."
According to a report from the Federal Aviation Administration, Southwest Flight 746 was en route from Phoenix to Oakland on May 25 when the Boeing 737's tail began to move left and right and the aircraft subsequently rocked from wingtip to wingtip in what is called a "Dutch roll."
The FAA's initial report indicated that there were 175 passengers as well as 6 crew members on board when the incident occurred. The plane landed safely in Oakland and there were no injuries, but the report notes that there was "significant" damage to the standby PCU — or power control unit — which controls an aircraft's rudder.
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Boeing states that the name "Dutch roll" is a reference to the motion of figure skaters when they laterally rock from side to side.
"Airplanes can make similar lateral and directional motions in flight, rolling and yawing much like a traditional Dutch ice skater rhythmically swaying down one of Amsterdam’s frozen canals," Boeing writes in a report. "... Just as skaters avoid swaying too far and losing their balance, airplanes are designed to keep roll and yaw within regulatory requirements to ensure safety — and potentially reduce the risk of airsickness."
Related: Alaska Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Portland After Part of Plane Blows out Mid-Air
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Southwest declined to comment on the incident and referred PEOPLE to the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for comment. The NTSB did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
According to the Associated Press, the FAA notes that other airlines have not reported similar issues.
This report comes at a tumultuous time for Boeing — earlier this year, the company's CEO Dave Calhoun announced that he would be stepping down from his role at the end of the year following a number of incidents involving Boeing aircrafts.
Related: Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun Will Step Down Following a Series of Safety Issues
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In January, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 aircraft on its way to California was forced to make an emergency landing in Portland after a chunk of the aircraft's cabin fuselage blew out mid-flight. Just a few weeks later, the nose wheel of a Delta Airlines Boeing 757 fell off just before takeoff in Atlanta.
Also in March, a United Airlines Boeing jet rolled off the runway and tilted to the side. In the same week, yet another United flight diverted to Los Angeles on its way to Osaka, Japan after a tire fell off the plane.
Calhoun previously called the Alaska airlines incident a “watershed moment” in an announcement to employees.
"We must continue to respond to this accident with humility and complete transparency," he wrote to employees at the time. "We also must inculcate a total commitment to safety and quality at every level of our company."
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