FAA investigates near-miss plane crash close to Hawaii.

FAA Probes Southwest Flight's 400-Foot Plunge Over Pacific

An investigation is underway after a Southwest Airlines flight plunged to just 400 feet above the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii on April 11, according to the FAA and tracking data. The plane dropped at a rate of more than 4,000 feet per minute before pulling up, with the flight crew performing a "roller coaster maneuver" to avoid the ocean, Bloomberg reported, citing a Southwest memo. Southwest confirmed the incident, stating, "Nothing is more important than Safety...the event was addressed appropriately." Southwest statement.

Southwest Flight 2786

Southwest Flight 2786, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, departed Daniel K. Inouye International Airport at 9:35 am on April 11, bound for Lihue Airport near Honolulu, according to Flight Aware. Tracking data shows the plane turned around and returned to its departure airport, landing at 10:35 am. Lihue Airport.

Internal Memo

According to Southwest's internal memo, a "newer" first officer was flying when they inadvertently pushed forward on the control column, per Bloomberg. The pilots aborted landing due to bad weather. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.