FAA Investigates Unusual Rolling Incident on Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8

Federal authorities are currently investigating a peculiar rolling motion experienced by a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, speculated to have been triggered by a damaged backup power-control unit. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) disclosed that they are collaborating with Boeing and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to delve into the incident that occurred during a flight from Phoenix to Oakland on May 25.

The FAA specified that the plane entered a maneuver known as a ‘Dutch roll,’ combining a yawing motion with rocking from wingtip to wingtip, resembling the movement of a Dutch ice skater. This event unfolded at an altitude of approximately 32,000 feet. Pilots are trained to manage such occurrences, and the aircraft safely landed in Oakland without sustaining any injuries among the 175 passengers and six crew members on board.

Following a preliminary inspection conducted by the FAA after landing, it was revealed that the backup power unit for the rudder had incurred damage. CBS News Aviation Safety analyst Robert Sumwalt emphasized the significance of any uncommanded flight control movement, particularly noting the substantial damage resulting from this incident in his correspondence with CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave.

The FAA reassured that other airlines have not reported similar issues, and Southwest Airlines affirmed that they have not encountered a comparable problem with their other Max jets in operation. The aircraft involved in the incident was delivered in November 2022, indicating it has been in service for slightly over a year.

The incident was initially brought to light by , which detailed that a temporary repair was executed in Oakland before the aircraft was ‘ferried’ to Boeing’s facility in Everett, Washington, for further repairs.

This recent event transpires amidst continued scrutiny surrounding the 737 Max aircraft, stemming from a prior fatal crash that triggered a temporary grounding of that Max variant, echoing concerns within the aviation industry.