Southwest flight lands at wrong Missouri airport

Associated Press ^ | Jan 13, 2014 11:35 AM (ET) | JIM SALTER

[DJ MacWoW]

Federal officials are investigating why a Southwest Airlines flight that was supposed to land at Branson Airport in southwest Missouri instead landed at another airport about 7 miles away that only had about half as much runway.

Southwest Airlines Flight 4013, carrying 124 passengers and five crew members, was scheduled to go from Chicago's Midway International Airport to Branson Airport, airline spokesman Brad Hawkins said Sunday in a statement. But the Boeing 737-700 landed at Taney County Airport, which also is known as M. Graham Clark Downtown Airport.

[EQAndyBuzz]

He was in the right pew..just the wrong church.

[onedoug]

Agreed. If the proper destination had been entered into the flight management system it's practically impossible to have screwed this up. Guess these guys found a way though.

[ErnBatavia]

Years ago, a business associate picked me up at the Perth, West Australia airport, and on “Route One” exiting, he told me about how not too long before, a Garuda Indonesian jumbo had gotten as far as final approach - but to Route One, not the airport.

[lowbridge]

“landed at another airport about 7 miles away”

Close enough.

[rawhide]

I read today when the passengers got off the plane, they discovered the plane stopped just 40 feet from going off a cliff.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/grantmartin/2014/01/12/southwest-airlines-plane-lands-at-wrong-airport-almost-careens-off-cliff/

[Moonman62]

That's an interesting comment. I thought LUV made money from serving the smaller markets.

They do, and by flying point to point. But the 737 is the only thing they fly, and smaller aircraft will be more profitable in some markets.

[red river jack]

Seen one, seen ‘em all.

[DJ MacWoW]

Thanks for the added info.

That would give one pause.............

[Jack Hydrazine]

“Southwest brought in another plane and passengers flying on to Love Fiend in Dallas departed around 10 p.m., Bourke said.”

That’s the new strip club across the street from Love Field! LOL!

[Jack Hydrazine]

Foolproof system are always undermined by fools.

[blueunicorn6]

Well, if the passengers can pick which seat they want to use, I guess the pilot can pick which airport he wants to use.

[Ramius]

Do they even need to punish the pilot? Seems the punishment is built in. He’s going to hear about it every day for the rest of his career. [chuckle]

[Zhang Fei]

Apparently the author and the pilot are related.

If so, this is a lifetime's worth of material for a ribbing at family reunions.

[Red Badger]

Pilot: WOW, that runway sure is short!

Co-Pilot: Yeah, but look how WIDE it is!...................

[DJ MacWoW]

They have to be cousins at the least as neither can correctly identify airports. lol

[DJ MacWoW]

LOL!!!

[Red Badger]

...and in the dark....................

[Jed Eckert]

[TangoLimaSierra]

Hey, they all look alike from 30,000 feet.

Run-waycist!!

[Red Badger]

But did they remember to load the passengers baggage?................

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/09/air_berlin_lost_luggage_the_german_airline_melts_down_on_social_media.html