Southwest Airlines pilot David Paul Allsop was arrested in Savannah, Georgia, on DUI charges before his scheduled flight to Chicago. Airport police removed Allsop from duty due to suspected intoxication, and Southwest accommodated affected passengers on other flights. Allsop’s bail was set at $3,500, and he has been released. This incident highlights the FAA’s strict regulations prohibiting alcohol consumption by pilots within eight hours of flying or with a BAC of 0.04% or higher.
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Flight 2494, a Southwest Boeing 737-800 preparing for departure from Dallas Love Field, was struck by a bullet near the cockpit around 8:30 p.m. Fortunately, no one was injured. The aircraft was taken out of service, the runway briefly closed, and passengers were rebooked on a later flight. Dallas Police investigated the incident. The flight to Indianapolis was subsequently canceled.
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As a frequent flyer who has relied on Southwest Airlines for years, the recent announcement of the airline’s decision to eliminate open seating and introduce extra legroom as a paid option is disheartening. Southwest’s unique open seating model has been a defining feature of the airline since its inception, setting it apart from other carriers in the industry. The ability to board based on check-in time and choose your own seat on the plane was not only convenient but also made the flying experience more flexible and less stressful for many passengers.
The move to offer pricier seats with extra legroom and assign seats to passengers represents a significant departure from Southwest’s traditional approach.… Continue reading
As I sat in front of my computer screen, navigating through Microsoft Flight Simulator, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of confusion and concern when I read about the recent incident involving a Southwest flight that came dangerously close to the water. The fact that the plane had descended to just 175 feet above sea level while still 3 miles away from Tampa International Airport left me wondering how such a precarious situation could unfold.
Considering that the Southwest pilots were able to bring the plane back to a higher altitude and safely divert to Fort Lauderdale, I couldn’t shake off the nagging thought in my mind – why did they not continue to their original destination just 3 miles away?… Continue reading
Southwest Airlines has recently made headlines for all the right reasons, as they managed to avoid the chaos caused by a worldwide outage that affected several major airlines. While other carriers were grappling with delays and cancellations, Southwest was up and running smoothly, much to the surprise of many travelers.
Rumors have been circulating that Southwest Airlines is using outdated software, with some joking that they might be operating on Windows 3.1, a system from 1992. It’s been suggested that their IT infrastructure is so ancient that it’s actually immune to current malware, almost like a technological time capsule. The image of a laptop in a storage closet labeled “do not close” is both humorous and slightly alarming, highlighting just how unconventional their approach to technology may be.… Continue reading
As I sit here at a Southwest gate in Denver, waiting to board my flight, the news of a Southwest Boeing 737-800 losing its engine cover certainly gives me pause. The thought of being up in the air and having parts of the plane fall off is quite unsettling, to say the least. It makes me wonder about the maintenance practices in place and who exactly is responsible for ensuring that everything is secure before takeoff.
It’s easy to point fingers and place blame on Boeing, especially with all the recent negative press surrounding the company. However, upon closer inspection, it seems that this particular incident is more likely a result of maintenance oversight rather than a design flaw from Boeing.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker