DALLAS, April 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) confirms an accident involving
Southwest Airlines Flight 1380. The flight made an emergency
diversion to Philadelphia
International Airport (PHL) earlier today after the Crew reported
issues with the number one engine which resulted in damage to the
fuselage.
We are deeply saddened to confirm that there is one fatality
resulting from this accident. The entire Southwest Airlines Family
is devastated and extends its deepest, heartfelt sympathy to the
Customers, employees, family members and loved ones affected by
this tragic event. We have activated our emergency response team
and are deploying every resource to support those affected by this
tragedy. For a message from Gary
Kelly, Southwest Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
please click here.
The aircraft involved today was a Boeing 737-700 (N772SW) and
was enroute from New York LaGuardia (LGA) to Dallas Love Field
(DAL). In total, the flight had 144 Customers and five Southwest
Crewmembers onboard. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to
the Southwest Pilots and Flight Attendants who acted professionally
and swiftly to take care of our Customers during the emergency
diversion and landing.
Finally, Southwest Airlines officials are in direct contact with
the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) to support an immediate, coordinated
response to this accident. Southwest is in the process of gathering
additional information regarding flight 1380 and will fully
cooperate in an investigative process.
Please join the Southwest Family in keeping all of those
affected by today's tragedy in your thoughts.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 47th year of
service, Dallas-based Southwest
Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from
other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by
more than 56,000 Employees to a Customer base topping 120 million
passengers annually, in recent years. Southwest became the nation's
largest domestic air carrier in 2003 and maintains that ranking
based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent
reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded. During peak
travel seasons, Southwest operates more than 4,000 weekday
departures among a network of 100 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries.
Southwest has announced its intention to sell tickets in 2018 for
service to Hawaii, subject to
requisite governmental approvals.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.