A Southwest Airlines flight from Orlando to Tampa experienced a sudden and alarming descent over the Courtney Campbell Causeway on Tuesday, leaving passengers shaken and questioning the safety of the flight.
One passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, described the incident as “scary” and “uncomfortable.” The plane, which was approaching Tampa International Airport, reportedly dropped 150 feet in altitude before leveling off.
“It felt like we were going down, down, down,” the passenger said. “I thought we were going to crash. I was really scared.”
The passenger also recounted hearing a loud “bang” shortly before the descent, which they believe may have been related to the incident.
Southwest Airlines has acknowledged the incident, stating that the aircraft experienced a “brief altitude deviation” and that the pilots “took immediate corrective action.” The airline also assured passengers that the aircraft landed safely and that the incident is currently under investigation.
However, the passenger who spoke with Fox 13 News expressed concern about the lack of communication from the pilots during the incident. “They didn’t say anything,” they said. “We didn’t know what was going on.”
The incident has raised questions about the safety of the flight and the communication between pilots and passengers during such events. The investigation into the cause of the altitude deviation is ongoing.
