Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Flight 2353 aborted its landing at Hollywood Burbank Airport on Thursday afternoon, according to multiple reports. The aircraft had departed from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and was scheduled to land at approximately 3:32pm PST.
Key Takeaways
Southwest Airlines Flight 2353 aborted its landing at Hollywood Burbank Airport after one wheel touched down but then pulled up to attempt another approach. Passengers reported the pilot announcing a routine go-around procedure due to an unclear runway. The FAA confirmed no other aircraft were present on the runway during the incident, which occurred amid heightened concerns about mid-air collisions at the airport.
- Southwest Flight 2353 aborted landing at Hollywood Burbank Airport
- Pilot announced a routine go-around due to unclear runway
- FAA confirmed no aircraft or vehicle was on the runway during the incident
- Incident highlights ongoing safety concerns at the airport
The plane attempted to touch down but pulled up after one of its wheels made contact with the runway before it took off again. Passengers later recounted their experience, and flight radar data showed a sudden increase in altitude after nearly landing. One passenger recorded video capturing the pilot's announcement over the intercom.
'Hey folks, just a quick update,' the pilot said. 'The ordered runway wasn't quite clear when we were going to touch down there, so we had to go-around. Now, we will get back in line and another probably five or 10 minutes here, and we'll be landing.'
The FAA spokesperson Chris Mullooly confirmed that after reviewing air traffic control communications, no aircraft or vehicle was present on the runway at approximately 3:35pm PST. The go-around maneuver is a routine procedure performed by pilots to discontinue the landing approach and safely attempt another.
This incident comes amid warnings from officials about Hollywood Burbank Airport's high risk for mid-air collisions, similar to last year's fatal crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that killed 67 people. The NTSB held a hearing on January 27, concluding that the airport poses significant risks due to its mixed traffic of commercial airlines and helicopters.
Separately, a United flight came within a few hundred feet of a US military helicopter near John Wayne Airport in Southern California on Tuesday night. According to FlightRadar24 data, the closest point between the United plane and the Black Hawk helicopter was 525ft vertically and 1,422ft laterally before the airline pilots received a collision avoidance alarm.
The FAA is investigating whether new rules implemented after last year's fatal crash were followed. These rules require air traffic controllers to actively use radar to direct helicopters and planes around airports nationwide, rather than relying on pilots to see and avoid each other.
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