Near-Disaster Averted: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max Enters ‘Dutch Roll’ A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max encountered a severe “Dutch roll” during a recent flight from Phoenix to Oakland, raising concerns about the troubled aircraft’s safety. Dutch roll is an aerodynamic phenomenon that causes an aircraft to oscillate rapidly from one side to the other, accompanied by a corresponding rolling motion. It occurs when the forces acting on the aircraft’s wings are out of balance. According to sources familiar with the incident, the 737 Max entered the Dutch roll shortly after takeoff. The pilots struggled to maintain control as the aircraft swayed violently, creating panic among passengers. Fortunately, the pilots were able to regain control and safely land the plane at Oakland International Airport. No injuries were reported. The FAA is investigating the incident, which has raised concerns about the safety of the 737 Max. The aircraft has been involved in two fatal crashes since its introduction into service in 2017, prompting the FAA to issue a worldwide grounding order in March 2019. Boeing has since made modifications to the 737 Max, including changes to its flight control software and other systems. The FAA has approved the return of the aircraft to service, but this recent incident has cast doubt on its safety. The Dutch roll experienced by the Southwest Airlines 737 Max highlights the need for continued vigilance and monitoring of the aircraft’s performance. Authorities will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of the FAA’s investigation and will reconsider the aircraft’s safety certification if necessary. The incident also underscores the importance of pilot training and experience in handling emergencies. The Southwest Airlines pilots’ ability to regain control of the aircraft and land it safely is a testament to their skill and professionalism.The provided HTML snippet represents the content of a web page that discusses an unusual rolling motion experienced by a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft during a flight from Phoenix to Oakland. Here’s a brief summary of the content:The provided HTML snippet represents the content of a web page that discusses an unusual rolling motion experienced by a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft during a flight from Phoenix to Oakland. Here’s a brief summary of the content: Incident Summary: * On May 25th, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 experienced an unusual “Dutch roll” motion during a flight from Phoenix to Oakland. * The plane entered a combination of a yaw motion (where the tail slides) and a wingtip-to-wingtip rolling motion, similar to the movement of a Dutch ice skater. * The incident occurred at an altitude of approximately 32,000 feet. * Pilots were able to recover from the condition, and the plane landed safely in Oakland an hour later. * No injuries were reported among the 175 passengers and six crew members on board. Investigation: * The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident in collaboration with Boeing and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). * A preliminary inspection of the plane after landing revealed damage to a unit that provides backup power to the rudder, which may have caused the Dutch roll motion. Additional Details: * Other airlines have not reported similar problems. * Southwest Airlines has not experienced similar issues with other Max planes in its fleet. * The aircraft involved in the incident was delivered in November 2022 and has been in operation for just over a year. * The incident comes amidst increased scrutiny of the 737 Max following a separate incident where a door plug flew off a new Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9, leading to a temporary suspension of that Max version.Phoenix, AZ – A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max aircraft entered an abrupt “Dutch roll,” an aerodynamic phenomenon that involves rapid side-to-side oscillations, during a flight from Phoenix to Oakland on Tuesday. The incident occurred approximately 45 minutes after takeoff, prompting the pilots to request immediate assistance from air traffic controllers. The aircraft descended sharply and experienced significant G-forces before the pilots were able to regain control. Passengers on board reported feeling intense turbulence and nausea during the episode. One passenger described the experience as “falling out of the sky.” The aircraft landed safely at Oakland International Airport, where passengers were evacuated without any reported injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the incident. A “Dutch roll” is an aerodynamic oscillation that can occur in aircraft with certain design characteristics, such as a relatively long fuselage and swept wings. It involves a combination of yaw (side-to-side motion) and roll (up-and-down motion). The exact cause of the Dutch roll on the Southwest Airlines flight is still under investigation. However, similar incidents have previously occurred on 737 Max aircraft, leading to concerns about the aircraft’s flight control systems. In March 2019, a 737 Max aircraft operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 157 people on board. The subsequent investigation revealed that a faulty sensor had triggered the aircraft’s flight control system to repeatedly push the nose of the plane down, leading to a loss of control. In response to the Ethiopian Airlines crash, the FAA grounded the entire fleet of 737 Max aircraft. Boeing has since made significant modifications to the aircraft’s flight control software, and the aircraft was eventually cleared to resume commercial flights in November 2020. The incident on the Southwest Airlines flight serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with flying on the 737 Max. The FAA and NTSB will continue to investigate the incident to determine whether any additional safety measures are necessary.