Southwest Airlines Fires Captain Over Hard Landing in LaGuardia

Southwest Airlines has said that it fired the captain who was at the controls of a plane that landed nose first at New York’s LaGuardia Airport in July – an airplane accident that left nine people injured. According to a Bloomberg news report, the action came as the airline completed its investigation of the incident. As part of the decision, Southwest also ordered the first officer to undergo more training. The incident occurred on July 22 when the Southwest jet’s nose gear collapsed as it attempted to land at LaGuardia Airport.

Investigation into Crash

The procedures followed by the crew have been the focal point of the inquiry into the incident. The flight’s captain, a 13-year veteran of the airline, took control from the first officer moments before the Boeing 737 hit the runway. Officials have been looking into why the captain took control. This is against routine procedure because, experts say, it is flying pilot who has the better sense of what the airplane is doing as opposed to the captain. The pilots were placed on administrative leave during Southwest’s inquiry. The flight was carrying 150 people.

Common Causes of Aviation Accidents

Aviation accidents may be rare. However, when they do occur, they can be devastating. The most common causes of airplane crashes include:

• Pilot error: A pilot’s carelessness or incompetence can cause or contribute to a catastrophic crash.
• Lack of maintenance or repair: Airlines are required to maintain logs with regard to the aircraft’s maintenance history. This is usually an important part of any post-crash investigation.
• Air traffic control errors: When air traffic controllers are negligent or fail to follow procedures or protocols, it could result in runway incursions or even collisions.
• Pilot inexperience: Pilots are required to have sufficient experience flying different types of aircraft before they are allowed to take charge of an aircraft.
• Defective products: Crashes could occur due to defective components or parts or defective aircraft design.

Protecting Victims’ Rights

Aviation accidents can be challenging because investigations in these cases can be lengthy and complicated. It is important that injured victims or families of deceased victims retain the services of an experienced aviation accident attorney who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. This can be a challenging and stressful time for victims or families. However, making sure that you have a skilled and knowledgeable advocate on your side can be invaluable during such a time.