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Southwest Airlines plane strikes debris on runway in Fort Myers

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Southwest Airlines plane strikes debris on runway in Fort Myers
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Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 at Fort Myers airport | Southwest Airlines

Last week, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 aircraft encountered foreign object debris on the runway at Fort Myers. The incident occurred during a flight from Atlanta to Fort Myers and resulted in damage to the main landing gear and fuselage. Despite this, the aircraft continued to the terminal and resumed service after approximately five and a half hours.

On January 17, 2025, Southwest flight WN3009 departed from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport at 11:01 and landed at Southwest Florida International Airport at 12:13. The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-700 with registration N236WN. Aviation Herald reported that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted: "AIRCRAFT STRUCK DEBRIS ON LANDING AND POST FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED DAMAGE TO MAIN LANDING GEAR AND FUSELAGE, FORT MYERS, FL."

The crew informed Air Traffic Control about vultures near the runway centerline. According to Flightradar24, the aircraft was scheduled for another flight shortly after landing but only departed for Baltimore Washington International Airport at 17:36.

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Following its delayed departure from Fort Myers, the jet operated flights between Baltimore and Atlanta before continuing to Dallas Love Field. The next day it resumed operations with routes including Dallas to Tampa and Baltimore to Rochester.

Southwest Airlines has a fleet of 814 Boeing 737s. The affected aircraft first flew in April 2006 and has logged significant flight hours since then. It is valued at $10.8 million.

In other news, Southwest recently completed the International Air Transport Association IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). Andrew Waterson, Chief Operating Officer of Southwest Airlines, stated: "Along with our robust Safety Management System and Safety Culture we already have in place, successfully completing IOSA reinforces our commitment to safety and makes us accountable to the high standards upheld by airlines around the globe."

The IOSA certification represents an important standard for airline operational safety globally and is necessary for joining IATA.

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