Feds investigating Southwest Airlines flight’s close call with ATC tower at LaGuardia

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a Southwest Airlines flight that had a close call with an air traffic control tower while attempting to land at LaGuardia Airport in New York.

According to the agency, an air traffic controller instructed the crew members of Southwest flight 147, which veered off course due to inclement weather, to perform a go-around at LaGuardia on March 23 around 1 p.m. EDT. The flight diverted and landed at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

“Southwest flight 147 diverted to Baltimore-Washington International Airport on Saturday, March 23, after encountering turbulence and low visibility at New York LaGuardia Airport,” said Chris Perry, spokesperson at Southwest. “The aircraft returned to LaGuardia after a brief layover in Baltimore. We are reviewing the event as part of our safety systems.”

The FAA is investigating the incident and will determine if the aircraft flew over the tower at LaGuardia. The FAA has not indicated how close the jet may have come to the tower.

“Go around! Go around,” the air traffic controller said on ATC radio communication, according to CNN. About twelve seconds later, CNN reported that the air traffic controller said, “Continue climbing. You were — not on the approach.”

Last month, an American Airlines plane flying from Dallas to Los Angeles suffered a tire problem. Around the same time, a United Airlines flight aircraft ran off the taxiway into a grassy area after landing in Houston.

Just this week, Southwest flight 4273 diverted to Tampa Bay International Airport on April 3 after the captain declared an emergency due to turbulence during the flight. Two people were transported to a Tampa Bay area medical facility, Southwest confirmed.

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