Federal aviation authorities have launched an investigation after a packed Boeing 737 passenger jet malfunctioned and went into a terrifying 'Dutch Roll' mid-flight.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials are investigating the unusual taxiing maneuver that occurred during a Southwest flight.
Southwest Flight N8825Q, a Boeing 737 carrying 175 passengers, experienced a rare “Dutch Roll” at 32,000 feet in the air.
The incident caused extensive damage to the plane that put it out of service, officials said.
The two-year-old plane was traveling from Phoenix to Oakland on May 25 when its tail started moving left and right.
The movement caused the plane's wings to swing from side to side.
The phenomenon, known as the “Dutch Roll”, caused significant damage to the aircraft.
The move is said to mimic a speed skater, a sport the Dutch are famous for, in accordance with CBS News
However, the pilots were able to regain control and land safely in Oakland, according to the FAA.
They landed the plane an hour after the incident without any injuries.
Very bad. The Boeing MAX, just two years old, suffers structural damage in a “Dutch Roll” that should not happen in modern aircraft. However, CEO Calhoun got a 45% raise last month. https://t.co/vNfQsnMCX2
— Michael Stumo (@michael_stumo) June 14, 2024
The FAA has revealed that an inspection showed damage to a standby PCU, a standby power unit meant for the rudder, CBS reports.
“Any uncommanded flight control movement is potentially significant,” noted CBS News aviation safety analyst Robert Sumwalt.
“The fact that this has caused significant damage makes this kind of a big problem.”
In a statement, the FAA said:
“The FAA is working closely with the [National Transportation Safety Board] and Boeing to investigate this event.
“We will take appropriate action based on the findings.”
The incident is just the latest involving a plane made by Boeing, which continues to face increasing scrutiny over safety concerns.
At least 20 whistleblowers have come forward against the aerospace giant, which has faced a barrage of criticism in recent years for repeated technical failures around the world.
A scathing house Transport and infrastructure report in September 2020, two 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 were found to be the “horrific culmination” of “repeated and serious failures” by the company and regulators.
Then, in January 2024, a door panel blew up an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX-9 during a flight from Oregon to California, renewing safety concerns about the planes.
Two of the whistleblowers who came forward against Boeing have done so recently died under mysterious circumstances.
READ MORE – Boeing whistleblower warns before death: 'It's NOT suicide'
English 
Español de Venezuela 