Boeing 737-700 N256WN

Summary

On 22 May 2022 at about 03:00 local time, a Boeing 737-700 registered N256WN, operated by Southwest Airlines Co, was involved in an accident near Tacoma, Washington, United States. 67 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 May 2022 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Tacoma, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.1857, -122.2737

Aircraft

Boeing 737-700

Registration

N256WN

Category

Airplane

Year built

2006

Engines

2

Operator

Southwest Airlines Co

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oakland → Bellingham

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DCA22LA134

1 person was seriously injured.

During cruise flight with no reported turbulence a passenger sustained a serious injury for an unknown reason.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to a flight attendant (FA) on Southwest Airlines flight 2046, during cruise flight with no reported turbulence, she and several passengers noticed the forward lavatory was occupied for an unusually long time (10-15 minutes) requiring passengers to use the back lavatory. The FA realized the passenger had unlocked the lavatory door and cracked it open but did not exit. She knocked on the door and asked if everything was okay but there was no response. When the FA attempted to open the door, a female passenger started to exit the lavatory when she began to fall and grabbed on to the FA. The FA immediately requested for the front two passengers to assist her in getting the passenger up and moved to a seat. While assisting the passenger, the FA noticed the passenger’s foot was swollen and piece of bone was sticking through her skin. A volunteer medical professional who was onboard the airplane assisted and positioned the injured passenger in the front galley for landing. Emergency medical personnel met the airplane at the gate and transported the passenger to a local hospital.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.