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Southwest Airlines has announced a change in its landing preparation policy for flight attendants, starting December 4. According to an internal memo confirmed by the airline, flight attendants will now secure the cabin at 18,000 feet instead of the previous 10,000 feet before landing. This adjustment aims to reduce flight attendant injuries by 20%, based on extensive research and data analysis.
The new procedure was developed through collaboration between Southwest Airlines' Inflight Safety team and the flight attendant union TWU 556. The change is designed to address turbulence-related injuries, which have been a growing concern globally. A Southwest Airlines spokesperson stated, “Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants will begin preparing the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,000 feet beginning Dec. 4. The change in procedures is designed to reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries for our Crew Members and Customers."
The August 7 incident involving Southwest Airlines Flight 3633 highlighted the need for this policy shift. During that flight, turbulence at 19,000 feet resulted in a passenger injury after failing to comply with seatbelt instructions. The event underscored the importance of securing the cabin earlier to prevent similar incidents.
